MDPE UV-CB
Additive grade
ASTM D1248 Type II · ISO PE-MD
UV-CB = uV-stabilized / carbon-black pigmented
Use for any outdoor or buried application — carbon black plus HALS gives decades of weathering life.
Values for the UV-CB condition
Other MDPE grades and fills
MDPE is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at MDPE.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flame-retardant halogen-free (ATH/MDH filled) MDPE compound | For cable sheathing and enclosures needing V-0 / low-smoke halogen-free performance; heavy mineral loading cuts elongation and toughness. | 11 | 12 | 180 | 62 Shore D |
Rotomoulding grade | Choose for water/chemical tanks, kayaks and containers moulded rotationally, where flow and low-temperature impact matter. | 19 | 23 | 500 | 57 Shore D |
Crosslinkable / crosslinked MDPE | Select when service above 80 °C, creep resistance or full ESCR immunity is needed — hot-water pipe, crosslinked tanks and cable. | 19 | 23 | 400 | 57 Shore D |
PE80 pipe grade | Choose for buried gas distribution (yellow/orange) and potable water pipe requiring 50-year MRS 8.0 rating and slow-crack-growth resistance. | 20 | 27 | 800 | 59 Shore D |
UV-CBThis page UV-stabilized / carbon-black pigmented | Use for any outdoor or buried application — carbon black plus HALS gives decades of weathering life. | 20 | 25 | 650 | 59 Shore D |
Wire & cable jacketing / insulation compound | Black, antioxidant- and CB-stabilised MDPE for telecom and LV cable jackets needing moisture barrier and abrasion resistance. | 20 | 25 | 700 | 59 Shore D |
Injection moulding grade | For thin-wall closures, housewares and caps needing easy fill; trades some ESCR and elongation for flow. | 21 | 22 | 350 | 61 Shore D |
What is MDPE UV-CB?
MDPE UV-CB is MDPE in the UV-CB grade — use for any outdoor or buried application — carbon black plus HALS gives decades of weathering life. MDPE UV-CB has a yield strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 80% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 650% and the elastic modulus is 0.8 GPa (0.116 Msi). MDPE UV-CB has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F).
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 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.42 W/m·K (0.243 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 650%, better than 94% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 2.2%, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 20 MPa (2.9 ksi), worse than 80% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 77% of polymer grades
MDPE UV-CB properties
Typical room-temperature values for MDPE UV-CB; 29 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are MDPE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
MDPE UV-CB has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.034 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -110°C (-166 °F).
Mechanical16
MDPE UV-CB has a yield strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 80% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 650% and the elastic modulus is 0.8 GPa (0.116 Msi).
Thermal11
MDPE UV-CB is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.42 W/m·K (0.243 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
MDPE UV-CB is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 74% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of MDPE UV-CB takes about 78 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 88% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
MDPE UV-CB's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with MDPE UV-CB
Is MDPE easy to machine?
Machines easily but gummy and low-modulus — use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, low feed, coolant/air blast and generous fixturing to avoid part deflection and springback.
Can MDPE be welded?
Ideal for butt fusion, electrofusion, hot-plate, hot-gas and extrusion welding; joints reach near parent-material strength — adhesive bonding requires corona/flame or plasma pretreatment.
Can MDPE be formed, bent or molded?
Processes on standard PE screws at 180–240 °C melt with 20–60 °C tools; allow 1.5–3 % shrinkage with anisotropy, and thermoform or cold-bend sheet with allowance for large elastic recovery.
What surface finishes work on MDPE?
No paint, plating or anodising possible without surface activation; pigment in the melt, use in-mould texture, laser marking or corona-treated print/label systems.
MDPE 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-butene / 1-hexene comonomershort-chain branching sets density 0.926–0.940 | 0.5 – 4 | 2 |
| antioxidant / process stabiliserhindered phenol + phosphite | 0.05 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| carbon black2.0–2.5 % in UV/pipe/cable grades only | 0 – 2.5 | 0 |
| HALS UV stabiliserweatherable grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0 |
| ethylene (repeat unit)polymer backbone | ≥ 95 (balance) | — |
MDPE UV-CB — frequently asked
What is MDPE UV-CB used for?
MDPE UV-CB is typically used for gas pipe and fittings, shrink film, screw closures, carrier bags and sacks. In short: gas-pipe grade polyethylene; between LDPE and HDPE; good stress-crack resistance.
What is the yield strength of MDPE UV-CB?
MDPE UV-CB has a typical yield strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 80% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is MDPE UV-CB easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines easily but gummy and low-modulus — use sharp high-rake tools, high speed, low feed, coolant/air blast and generous fixturing to avoid part deflection and springback.
Can MDPE UV-CB be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Ideal for butt fusion, electrofusion, hot-plate, hot-gas and extrusion welding; joints reach near parent-material strength — adhesive bonding requires corona/flame or plasma pretreatment.
What surface finishes work on MDPE UV-CB?
No paint, plating or anodising possible without surface activation; pigment in the melt, use in-mould texture, laser marking or corona-treated print/label systems.
Can MDPE UV-CB be formed, bent or molded?
Processes on standard PE screws at 180–240 °C melt with 20–60 °C tools; allow 1.5–3 % shrinkage with anisotropy, and thermoform or cold-bend sheet with allowance for large elastic recovery.
What is the maximum service temperature of MDPE UV-CB?
MDPE UV-CB 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.
Sources
- ASTM D1248 — Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2016)
- ISO 4437 — Plastics piping systems for the supply of gaseous fuels — Polyethylene (PE) — ISO (2014)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyethylene datasheet set — CWFG / UL Solutions (2024)
- Polyethylene MDPE pipe, film and rotomoulding grade datasheets — Borealis / SABIC / Dow / Sinopec (2024)
- (PE resin spot pricing) (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.