LDPE
ASTM D1248 Type I · ISO PE-LD
LDPE is a highly branched polyethylene from high-pressure free-radical polymerisation, density about 0.92 g/cm³, soft and tough with no low-temperature embrittlement and very low dielectric loss.
LDPE grades and fills
LDPE is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Closed-cell LDPE foam | Chemically or physically blown closed-cell foam for protective packaging, gaskets and thermal insulation. | 0.35 | 100 | ||
Extrusion coating / lamination grade | Broad-MWD resin for high-speed coating of paper, board and foil; chosen for neck-in control and hot-tack adhesion. | 9 | 11 | 400 | 45 Shore D |
Injection moulding grade | High-MFR, lower-molecular-weight resin for thin-wall soft mouldings such as closures, liner caps and squeeze parts. | 10 | 10 | 200 | 46 Shore D |
FR V-0 | Use where UL 94 V-0/V-2 or low-smoke halogen-free cable compounds are required; heavy filler loading cuts elongation sharply. | 10 | 10 | 150 | 52 Shore D |
Carbon-black pigmented (2–2.5% CB) grade | Best low-cost outdoor durability — 2.5% well-dispersed carbon black for pipe sleeving, geomembrane and cable jacketing. | 10 | 11 | 400 | 48 Shore D |
Antistatic / conductive carbon-filled grade | Carbon-black or antistat-loaded compound for electronics packaging film, explosive-atmosphere liners and cable semicon layers. | 11 | 12 | 250 | 50 Shore D |
Cross-linked LDPE | Cross-linked network for LV/MV cable insulation and heat-shrink; raises continuous rating to ~90 °C and kills stress cracking, but the cured part cannot be remelted. | 17 | 450 | 50 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways LDPE is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FILM | Blown/cast film grade | Supply form |
FOOD | FOOD/FDA | Certification |
UV | UV/light-stabilized grade | Grade option |
UnfilledDefault | Natural general-purpose LDPE | Standard supply |
What is LDPE?
LDPE is a highly branched polyethylene from high-pressure free-radical polymerisation, density about 0.92 g/cm³, soft and tough with no low-temperature embrittlement and very low dielectric loss. It is used for film, packaging, cap liners, flexible tubing, cable insulation and extrusion coating; typical values are 10 MPa yield, 11 MPa tensile, 450% elongation and Shore D 47. Limits are low stiffness (0.22 GPa modulus), a service ceiling near 70 °C, moderate UV and stress-crack resistance, and a non-polar surface needing corona or flame treatment before printing or bonding. HDPE is the nearest alternative where stiffness is required. LDPE has a density of 0.92 g/cm³ (0.0333 lb/in³), lighter than 79% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F). LDPE has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 11 MPa (1.6 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 450% and the elastic modulus is 0.22 GPa (0.0319 Msi).
What is LDPE used for?
- Squeeze bottles
- Flexible tubing and hose
- Packaging film and drum liners
- Bottle cap liners and gaskets
- Wire and cable insulation
- Extrusion coating on paperboard
- Thin-wall flexible moulded parts
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.1 kg CO₂/kg, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.33 W/m·K (0.191 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 2.5%, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 10 MPa (1.45 ksi), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
LDPE properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
LDPE has a density of 0.92 g/cm³ (0.0333 lb/in³), lighter than 79% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F).
Mechanical17
LDPE has a yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 11 MPa (1.6 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 450% and the elastic modulus is 0.22 GPa (0.0319 Msi).
Thermal11
LDPE is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.33 W/m·K (0.191 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 190 µm/m·K (105.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
LDPE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of LDPE takes about 80 MJ of energy and emits 2.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 85% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability8
LDPE's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. LDPE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with LDPE
Is LDPE easy to machine?
Cuts easily but is gummy and springs back — use very sharp positive-rake single-flute tools, high speed, low feed pressure, air blast, and expect poor tolerance hold (>0.2 mm) plus large thermal expansion.
Can LDPE be welded?
Excellent thermoplastic weldability: heat sealing, impulse, hot-plate, hot-gas and extrusion welding with LDPE/LLDPE rod; adhesive bonding needs corona, flame or plasma surface treatment.
Can LDPE be formed, bent or molded?
Very easy flow at 160–230 °C melt, 20–50 °C mould, low injection pressure; allow 1.5–4% shrinkage with strong direction dependence and design generous draft and thick-to-thin gating to avoid voids and sink.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to LDPE. Every LDPE part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
Sheet metal
| Formability | Excellent90 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair95 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
LDPE chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| antioxidant / process stabilizer (hinder | 0.02 – 0.3 | 0.1 |
| slip & antiblock (erucamide, silica) — fOmitted in injection and food-critical grades | 0 – 1 | 0.3 |
| ethylene (branched homopolymer, C2H4 repHigh-pressure free-radical polymer; 20–40 short-chain branches + long-chain branching per 1000 C; crystallinity 40–55% | ≥ 98 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on LDPE?
Cannot be plated or painted without pre-treatment; use corona/flame treatment (≥38 dyn/cm) before printing, or in-mould colour, laser marking and hot stamping instead.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to LDPE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D1248 Type I
- ISO
- PE-LD
- Also called
- Low Density Polyethylene
How much does LDPE cost?
LDPE is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
LDPE — frequently asked
What is LDPE used for?
LDPE is typically used for squeeze bottles, flexible tubing and hose, packaging film and drum liners, bottle cap liners and gaskets, wire and cable insulation and extrusion coating on paperboard. In short: flexible; low cost.
What is the yield strength of LDPE?
LDPE has a typical yield strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) and a tensile strength of 11 MPa (1.6 ksi) — weaker than 91% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is LDPE easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Cuts easily but is gummy and springs back — use very sharp positive-rake single-flute tools, high speed, low feed pressure, air blast, and expect poor tolerance hold (>0.2 mm) plus large thermal expansion.
Can LDPE be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent thermoplastic weldability: heat sealing, impulse, hot-plate, hot-gas and extrusion welding with LDPE/LLDPE rod; adhesive bonding needs corona, flame or plasma surface treatment.
What surface finishes work on LDPE?
Cannot be plated or painted without pre-treatment; use corona/flame treatment (≥38 dyn/cm) before printing, or in-mould colour, laser marking and hot stamping instead.
Can LDPE be formed, bent or molded?
Very easy flow at 160–230 °C melt, 20–50 °C mould, low injection pressure; allow 1.5–4% shrinkage with strong direction dependence and design generous draft and thick-to-thin gating to avoid voids and sink.
What is the maximum service temperature of LDPE?
LDPE is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does LDPE cost?
LDPE is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 100% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in LDPE?
Yes — LDPE is available for sheet metal and injection molding; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM D4976 — Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2020)
- ISO 1872-1/-2 — Plastics: Polyethylene (PE) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2015)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyethylene datasets — CWFG / UL Solutions (2024)
- LDPE film and injection grade datasheets — Dow / ExxonMobil / SABIC / (2024)
- Eco-profile: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) — PlasticsEurope (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.