VLDPE C4
Grade
ASTM D883 · ISO 1872-1
C4 = butene (C4) copolymer VLDPE
Lowest-cost VLDPE; adequate flexibility but lower tear/impact than hexene or octene grades.
Values for the C4 condition
Other VLDPE grades and fills
VLDPE is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at VLDPE.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modifier / compounding grade | Very low density plastomer sold as a toughening masterbatch component for PP, HDPE and LLDPE blends. | 3 | 8 | 1,000 | 24 Shore D |
Metallocene-catalysed plastomer | Pick for narrowest composition distribution, lowest density/modulus, best clarity, seal initiation and impact modification. | 4 | 14 | 900 | 28 Shore D |
Octene (C8) copolymer VLDPE | Choose for maximum tear resistance, puncture strength and low-temperature toughness in heavy-duty film. | 5 | 20 | 850 | 34 Shore D |
Injection moulding grade | High-flow VLDPE for thin-wall soft mouldings, closures, bellows and over-moulded soft touch parts. | 6 | 11 | 600 | 39 Shore D |
Rotomoulding / powder grade | Ground 35-mesh powder version used for soft, impact-tough rotomoulded liners, bladders and toys. | 6 | 15 | 700 | 38 Shore D |
C4This page Butene (C4) copolymer VLDPE | Lowest-cost VLDPE; adequate flexibility but lower tear/impact than hexene or octene grades. | 8 | 14 | 700 | 42 Shore D |
What is VLDPE C4?
VLDPE C4 is VLDPE in the C4 grade — lowest-cost VLDPE; adequate flexibility but lower tear/impact than hexene or octene grades. VLDPE C4 has a yield strength of 8 MPa (1.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — weaker than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 0.09 GPa (0.0131 Msi). VLDPE C4 has a density of 0.91 g/cm³ (0.0328 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -125°C (-193 °F).
Advantages
- Readily welded — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 700%, better than 96% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 96% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 8 MPa (1.09 ksi), worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 25/100, worse than 90% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2.2%, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 62°C (144 °F), worse than 85% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
VLDPE C4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for VLDPE C4; 28 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are VLDPE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
VLDPE C4 has a density of 0.91 g/cm³ (0.0328 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -125°C (-193 °F).
Mechanical11
VLDPE C4 has a yield strength of 8 MPa (1.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — weaker than 93% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 700% and the elastic modulus is 0.09 GPa (0.0131 Msi).
Thermal10
VLDPE C4 is rated for continuous service to 62°C (144 °F). It conducts heat at 0.34 W/m·K (0.196 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 90% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 220 µm/m·K (122.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
VLDPE C4 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 (90/100), better than 82% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of VLDPE C4 takes about 78 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 88% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
VLDPE C4's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (95/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with VLDPE C4
Is VLDPE easy to machine?
Very soft and rubbery — use sharp single-flute or O-flute tools, high speed with low feed pressure, chill the stock or use compressed air to prevent smearing; not suitable for precision machining.
Can VLDPE be welded?
Excellent heat sealing, impulse, hot-plate and hot-gas/extrusion welding to itself and to LLDPE/LDPE; low seal-initiation temperature (as low as ~70 °C) is a key selling point; solvent bonding and adhesives require corona or flame treatment.
Can VLDPE be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and blows easily at 160–230 °C melt; low melt strength for large bubbles, so blend with LDPE for bubble stability; injection shrinkage is high (1.5–3.5 %) and parts stay soft, so allow long cooling and generous draft.
What surface finishes work on VLDPE?
Non-polar surface must be corona, plasma or flame treated (≥38 dyn/cm) before printing, laminating or painting; cannot be polished or plated, and pigment must be compounded rather than surface-coated.
VLDPE 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-octenetypical comonomer in metallocene/solution-process grades | 0 – 18 | 10 |
| 1-hexenealternative comonomer | 0 – 15 | 0 |
| 1-butenealternative comonomer, lowest cost | 0 – 12 | 0 |
| antioxidant / process stabilizerhindered phenol + phosphite | 0.05 – 0.3 | 0.15 |
| slip / antiblock additiveerucamide + silica, film grades only | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ethylenemain chain unit | ≥ 82 (balance) | — |
VLDPE C4 — frequently asked
What is VLDPE C4 used for?
VLDPE C4 is typically used for stretch/cling film, flexible hose and tubing, impact modifiers, gaskets and seals and ice/frost-resistant packaging. In short: softest polyethylene family member; lowest seal-initiation temperature; best cold-impact PE film.
What is the yield strength of VLDPE C4?
VLDPE C4 has a typical yield strength of 8 MPa (1.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — weaker than 93% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is VLDPE C4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Very soft and rubbery — use sharp single-flute or O-flute tools, high speed with low feed pressure, chill the stock or use compressed air to prevent smearing; not suitable for precision machining.
Can VLDPE C4 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (95/100). Excellent heat sealing, impulse, hot-plate and hot-gas/extrusion welding to itself and to LLDPE/LDPE; low seal-initiation temperature (as low as ~70 °C) is a key selling point; solvent bonding and adhesives require corona or flame treatment.
What surface finishes work on VLDPE C4?
Non-polar surface must be corona, plasma or flame treated (≥38 dyn/cm) before printing, laminating or painting; cannot be polished or plated, and pigment must be compounded rather than surface-coated.
Can VLDPE C4 be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes and blows easily at 160–230 °C melt; low melt strength for large bubbles, so blend with LDPE for bubble stability; injection shrinkage is high (1.5–3.5 %) and parts stay soft, so allow long cooling and generous draft.
What is the maximum service temperature of VLDPE C4?
VLDPE C4 is rated for continuous use to about 62°C (144 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D883 – Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics (polyethylene density classes) — ASTM International (2024)
- ISO 1872-1 – Plastics: Polyethylene (PE) moulding and extrusion materials, designation system — ISO (2023)
- ISO 1133 – Determination of melt mass-flow rate (MFR) — ISO (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- Ethylene-octene plastomer / VLDPE resin datasheets (Dow AFFINITY & FLEXOMER, ExxonMobil EXACT, Mitsui TAFMER, SABIC) — Resin producers (2024)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyolefin property records — CWFG / UL Solutions (2024)
- GB/T 11115 – (PE) (2009)
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.