Polyolefins and related plastics

polyolefins

9 materials across 1 types

About polyolefins and related plastics

Polyolefins (polyethylene, HDPE, UHMWPE, polypropylene, COC, PMP, polyketone, EPDM): density, strength and chemical resistance with sources.

Polyolefins are the most widely used plastics: light, cheap and chemically resistant. Ultra-high molecular weight grades add very high wear and impact resistance, and cyclic and polymethylpentene grades add clarity and low moisture uptake.

At a glance

Highest density: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reaches 1.62 g/cm³. Lowest: Polymethylpentene starts at 0.83 g/cm³. (9 of 9 grades have a sourced value.)
Highest tensile strength: Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) reaches 46 MPa. Lowest: EPDM starts at 10.5 MPa. (7 of 9 grades have a sourced value.)
Highest young's modulus: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reaches 3.72 GPa. Lowest: UHMWPE starts at 0.55 GPa. (6 of 9 grades have a sourced value.)

Ranges run across the conditions each source reports (temper, heat treatment, form), measured at room temperature where the source says so.

How they compare

The same measurements for every material in the collection. A range means the grade has values under several conditions; "at least" means the source gives a specified minimum. "no data" means no sourced value yet. For ranked tables, open a benchmark.

Polyolefins and related plastics: how the grades compare
Material	Density	Tensile strength	Young's modulus	Glass transition	Heat deflection temperature	Maximum service temperature
Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)amorphous, transparent thermoplastic for optics, packaging and moulded parts (Zeon COP grades included for comparison)	1.01 to 1.02 g/cm³	46 MPa	2.6 to 3.2 GPa	68 to 162 °C	75 to 127 °C	no data
EPDMSeal, O-ring and hose elastomer for hot water, steam and weathering service	1.14 to 1.19 g/cm³	10.5 to 17 MPa	no data	-42 to -37 °C	no data	125 to 260 °C
HDPElight, tough, chemically resistant thermoplastic for molded, machined and extruded parts	0.95 to 0.96 g/cm³	no data	0.75 GPa	no data	42 to 80 °C	82.2 °C
Polymethylpentenetransparent low-density thermoplastic for moulding, films and release	0.83 g/cm³	25 MPa	1.9 GPa	no data	127 °C	no data
Polyethylene (PE)lithium-ion separator polymer and general engineering thermoplastic	0.93 to 0.96 g/cm³	21 to 30 MPa	0.8 to 1.27 GPa	no data	no data	no data
Aliphatic polyketone (PK)semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic made from carbon monoxide and olefins; PEVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) is covered briefly as the PV encapsulant polymer	0.95 g/cm³	19 MPa	no data	no data	no data	no data
Polypropylene (PP)thermoplastic for moulding, films and battery separators	0.9 g/cm³	no data	no data	no data	80 to 97 °C	no data
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)rigid pipe and profile thermoplastic (uPVC); plasticised for flexible cable jackets and tubing	1.18 to 1.62 g/cm³	13.1 to 33 MPa	2.3 to 3.72 GPa	no data	57 to 72.2 °C	60 °C
UHMWPEwear-resistant engineering plastic and high-strength fibre (Dyneema, Spectra)	0.93 to 0.97 g/cm³	40 MPa	0.55 GPa	no data	46.7 °C	82.2 to 90 °C

What these materials are made of

Composition by weight, as printed in the sources for each grade (the first constituents listed).

Composition of each grade
Material	Main constituents
Polyethylene (PE)	C 85.6% · H 14.4%
UHMWPE	C 85.6% · H 14.4%

Where they are used

Uses
Use	Grades
Injection-moulded optical parts	Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)
Insulating moulded parts (low-permittivity dielectric)	Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)
O-ring seals in brake systems that use glycol (DOT 3 and 4) or silicone (DOT 5) fluids	EPDM
O-rings and gaskets in vacuum equipment, tested to the ASTM E 595 outgassing method	EPDM
Injection-molded general parts, household products, bottle caps and closures, and toys	HDPE
Machined parts such as chain guides, tanks, pipe systems and chemical containers	HDPE
Optical analysis cell	Polymethylpentene
Release film for flexible printed circuits (FPC)	Polymethylpentene
Microporous separator between the electrodes of a lithium-ion cell	Polyethylene (PE)
Injection-molded plastic parts	Polyethylene (PE)
Injection-moulded electrical, electronics, consumer and vehicle parts (ground)	Aliphatic polyketone (PK)
Wear-resistant, low-noise moving parts (ground)	Aliphatic polyketone (PK)
Ethylene-vinyl acetate encapsulant in photovoltaic modules (PEVA)	Aliphatic polyketone (PK)
Microporous separator membrane in lithium battery cells	Polypropylene (PP)
Polymer sample on a space flight experiment	Polypropylene (PP)
Sewage pipes, pressure pipes, rigid profiles, window frames and electrical ducts	Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

When each grade fits

Best use and weak spots of each grade
Material	Best for	Weakest at
Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)	Clear, moulded optical and medical parts where low moisture uptake matters (91 % light transmission for TOPAS 8007S-04 and 92 % for ZEONEX 5000)	Heat: the low-Tg TOPAS 8007S-04 grade deflects at 75 °C under 0.45 MPa, and no space exposure data were found
EPDM	Seals for hot water, steam, ozone and weathering, and for glycol or silicone brake fluids (Polymax, Parker)	Petroleum lubricants (Parker says it deteriorates in them), and UV exposure, which crosslinks and oxidises the rubber in the one UV-aged study read here
HDPE	Light, tough, moisture-resistant plastic parts that are kept out of sunlight and out of heat	UV and heat: pure HDPE lost 66.0% of its elongation after 600 h of UV lamp ageing, and its heat-deflection temperature is 42 to 70 °C under light load
Polymethylpentene	Transparent, low-density mouldings and release films where heat resistance and a low dielectric constant matter: RT18 at 833 kg/m3, 94 % transmittance and a dielectric constant of 2.11 at 1 MHz	Impact and long exposure: an Izod impact of 24 J/m for RT18, a heat distortion temperature of 127 °C at 0.45 MPa, and Mitsui's warning that long outdoor use can cause colour change and quality loss
Polyethylene (PE)	Low-density, tough, chemically resistant plastic, and a melt-based shutdown near 130 °C in a battery separator	Stiffness and heat resistance: a separator layer melts near 130 to 135 °C, and the H5818J HDPE grade has a flexural modulus of 13000 kg/cm2
Aliphatic polyketone (PK)	Injection-moulded and extruded ground parts that need wear resistance and resistance to hot water and weak chemicals (PK)	UV and heat ageing: no UV or heat-ageing number was read for PK, and the Akro-Plastic chemical table shows large yield-stress losses in hot acid and in dimethylformamide
Polypropylene (PP)	Light battery separators and moulded parts: a 14 µm Celgard PP1410 monolayer at 43 % porosity and 290 gf puncture strength (typical), and a 0.90 g/cm3 density in the LyondellBasell grades	Heat and atomic oxygen: heat deflection temperatures of 80 °C to 97 °C in the grades read, and an erosion yield of 2.68e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	Stiff, dense, flame-rated rigid profiles, pipes and window frames, and flexible cable jackets where elongation matters	Heat under load: rigid compounds deflect at 57 to 72.2 °C under 1.8 MPa, and the flexible cable grades are rated to 60 °C for continuous use
UHMWPE	Low-friction, abrasion-resistant parts, and high-strength fibre at about 0.97 g/cm3	Heat and sunlight: a 82.2 °C long-term air limit for the sheet grade, and UV ageing that breaks polymer chains