spore: profile
id: ldpe
spore_version: 0.2
family: polyolefins
name: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
abbreviation: LDPE
role: flexible film, bag, coating and cable-insulation polymer
category: polymers
type: polyolefins
summary: |
  Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a branched, flexible thermoplastic made by polymerising ethylene. The Xometry LDPE data sheet gives a density of 0.918 g/cm3 (no test standard printed) and a melting point of 115 °C. Both supplier safety data sheets read classify the solid resin as not hazardous under EU or GHS rules. In a 2024 laboratory UV weathering study of LDPE sheet, elongation at break fell from 1020.2 % before exposure to 5.8 % after 4 weeks, so exposed LDPE loses its stretch within weeks.
best_for: 'Flexible films, bags and wraps, and cable insulation: a density of 0.918 g/cm3 and an elongation at break of 100 % on the Xometry LDPE data sheet, with a moisture absorption of 0.005 %'
weakest_at: 'UV exposure and heat under load: elongation at break fell to 5.8 % after 4 weeks of UV weathering in the 2024 MDPI sheet study, and the Xometry data sheet gives a heat deflection temperature of 48 °C'
identity:
  formula: (C2H4)n, polyethylene made from ethylene; repeat unit C2H4 as printed in NASA/TM-2008-215490, Table IV
  cas: 9002-88-4
  source: montachem-sds
  where: Section 3, CAS Number row for Low Density Polyethylene; the same CAS number is printed in Relene SDS section 3.1 and Tricolene SDS section 3.2
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications: []
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 0.918
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      temperature: not printed on the page
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Physical Properties table, Density row
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, generic LDPE (ASTM D-792, Plastics International)
    value: 57.39
    unit: lbs/ft3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      temperature: 23 °C (73 °F), per the page note saying all values are at 73 °F (23 °C) unless otherwise noted
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-792 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Density row (ASTM D-792)
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, LDPE resin used for sheet study (MDPI 2024)
    value: 0.92
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: LDPE resin from Sinopec Group, Maoming, not further named
      basis: resin as supplied, before extrusion into sheet
    method: Value printed in the materials paragraph of the paper
    status: ground
    source: mdpi-uv-2024
    where: Section 2.1 (Materials), first LDPE paragraph
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, Tricolene LDPE (safety data sheet)
    value: 0.919
    value_high: 0.925
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: Tricolene LDPE homopolymer, Tricon Energy
      temperature: not printed on the page
    method: Value printed in the physical properties section of the safety data sheet, not a datasheet value
    status: ground
    source: tricolene-sds
    where: Section 9 (Physical and chemical properties), Density row
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, LDPE (Wikipedia polyethylene density table)
    value: 0.924
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: LDPE row of the table of polyethylene densities and structures
    method: Value printed in a secondary reference table, no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Properties section, table of PE densities, LDPE row
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 115
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Melting point row
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point range, Relene LDPE (safety data sheet)
    value: 104
    value_high: 115
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: RELENE LDPE, Reliance Industries
    method: Value printed in the physical and chemical properties section of the safety data sheet
    status: ground
    source: relene-sds
    where: Section 9, Melting Point (°C) row
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, generic LDPE (ASTM D-3417, Plastics International)
    value: 230
    unit: °F
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-3417 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Thermal table, Melt Point row (ASTM D-3417)
  - benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
    label: Glass transition temperature, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: -110
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Glass transition temperature row
  - benchmark: vicat_softening_temperature
    label: Vicat softening temperature, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 89
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      test: Vicat method not named on the page
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Vicat softening temperature row
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: Heat deflection temperature, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 48
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      load: not printed on the page
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Heat deflection row
  - benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
    label: Heat deflection temperature, generic LDPE (ASTM D-668, Plastics International)
    value: 98
    unit: °F
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      load: 264 psi
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-668 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Thermal table, Heat Deflection row, 264 psi line (ASTM D-668)
  - benchmark: max_service_temp
    label: Continuous service temperature, LDPE (Wikipedia)
    value: 65
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: stated as the temperature LDPE can withstand continuously; time and load not given
    method: General statement in the Wikipedia article, no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Chemical resistance section, first paragraph
  - benchmark: max_service_temp
    label: Maximum service temperature, generic LDPE (Designerdata)
    value: 70
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Value printed in the specific properties list of the Designerdata page
    status: ground
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Specific properties, Maximum service temperature row
  - benchmark: min_service_temp
    label: Minimum service temperature, generic LDPE (Designerdata)
    value: -30
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Value printed in the specific properties list of the Designerdata page
    status: ground
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Specific properties, Minimum service temperature row
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 0.33
    unit: W/m·K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Thermal conductivity row
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat capacity, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 1900
    unit: J/kg·K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Thermal Properties table, Specific heat capacity row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile strength, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 10
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
      test: not printed on the page
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Tensile strength row
  - benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
    label: Tensile break strength, generic LDPE (ASTM D-638, Plastics International)
    value: 1943
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-638 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Tensile Break row (ASTM D-638)
  - benchmark: yield_strength
    label: Yield point, generic LDPE (ASTM D-638, Plastics International)
    value: 1363
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, printed as 1,363 psi; test method ASTM D-638 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Yield Point row (ASTM D-638)
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, generic LDPE (ASTM D-638, Plastics International)
    value: 515
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-638 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Elongation at Break row (ASTM D-638)
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 100
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Elongation at break row
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, unweathered LDPE sheet (MDPI 2024)
    value: 1020.2
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: lab-made LDPE sheet with antioxidants Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168, before UV weathering
      spread: standard deviation 135.5 % as printed
      test: ASTM D638-14 tensile test, Type V specimens
    method: Average of 5 replicate specimens, value printed in the tensile results paragraph
    status: ground
    source: mdpi-uv-2024
    where: Results on tensile properties, paragraph beginning with the unweathered LDPE-0.8 sheet, Figure 1c
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, LDPE sheet after 2 weeks of UV weathering (MDPI 2024)
    value: 95.6
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: lab-made LDPE sheet, ASTM D5208-14 UV weathering at 50 °C
      time: 2 weeks
      spread: standard deviation 22.5 % as printed
    method: Average of replicate specimens, value printed in the tensile results paragraph
    status: ground
    source: mdpi-uv-2024
    where: Results on tensile properties, paragraph beginning with the unweathered LDPE-0.8 sheet, Figure 1c
  - benchmark: elongation
    label: Elongation at break, LDPE sheet after 4 weeks of UV weathering (MDPI 2024)
    value: 5.8
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: lab-made LDPE sheet, ASTM D5208-14 UV weathering at 50 °C
      time: 4 weeks
      spread: standard deviation 2.9 % as printed
    method: Average of replicate specimens, value printed in the tensile results paragraph
    status: ground
    source: mdpi-uv-2024
    where: Results on tensile properties, paragraph beginning with the unweathered LDPE-0.8 sheet, Figure 1c
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Modulus of elasticity, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 0.39
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Modulus of elasticity row
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Tensile modulus, generic LDPE (ASTM D-638, Plastics International)
    value: 41615
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-638 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Tensile Modulus row (ASTM D-638)
  - benchmark: flexural_modulus
    label: Flexural modulus, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 0.199
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Flexural modulus row
  - benchmark: flexural_modulus
    label: Flexural modulus, generic LDPE (ASTM D-790, Plastics International)
    value: 28565
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-790 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Flexural Modulus row (ASTM D-790)
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 10.3
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Mechanical Properties table, Flexural strength row
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength, generic LDPE (ASTM D-790, Plastics International)
    value: 1175
    unit: psi
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the data sheet, test method ASTM D-790 printed in the test column
    status: ground
    source: plasticsintl-ldpe
    where: Property table, Flexural Strength row (ASTM D-790)
  - benchmark: dielectric_strength
    label: Breakdown potential, LDPE (Designerdata)
    value: 28.55
    unit: kV/mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: breakdown potential as printed on the page; test method not named
    method: Value printed in the material property list of the Designerdata page
    status: ground
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Material property list, Breakdown potential row
  - benchmark: refractive_index
    label: Refraction index, LDPE (Designerdata)
    value: 1.52
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: as printed on the page; wavelength and temperature not named
    method: Value printed in the material property list of the Designerdata page
    status: ground
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Material property list, Refraction index row
  - benchmark: moisture_absorption
    label: Water absorption, generic LDPE (Xometry data sheet)
    value: 0.005
    unit: '%'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: generic LDPE, no grade named
    method: Typical value printed on the Xometry LDPE data sheet; no test standard printed
    status: ground
    source: xometry-ldpe
    where: Physical Properties table, Water Absorption row
  - benchmark: flash_point
    label: Flash point, Relene LDPE (closed cup, safety data sheet)
    value: 390
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: RELENE LDPE, Reliance Industries
      basis: printed as greater than 390 °C (closed cup), so 390 °C is a lower limit
    method: Value printed in the physical and chemical properties section of the safety data sheet
    status: ground
    source: relene-sds
    where: Section 9, Flash Point (°C) [Closed cup] row
corrosion:
  - environment: UV weathering in the laboratory under ASTM D5208-14
    headline: A laboratory LDPE sheet lost most of its stretch under UV weathering within weeks.
    effect: Elongation at break was measured before weathering and after two and four weeks; the values are in the property table. The sheet contained the antioxidants Irganox 1010 and Irgafos 168, and the authors report the UV-induced loss in tensile elongation and carbonyl index.
    conditions:
      basis: accelerated laboratory weathering, not a service test
      reference: Du, Lee and Ji, Polymers 2024, Materials and Results, Figure 1
    source: mdpi-uv-2024
    where: Section 2.1 (Materials) and results on tensile properties, Figure 1b and 1c
    rating: unknown
  - environment: Continuous heat in service
    headline: Wikipedia says LDPE can withstand 65 °C continuously and a short exposure to a higher temperature.
    effect: The Wikipedia article states that LDPE can withstand temperatures of 65 °C continuously. The article gives the continuous limit only, without a load or test time.
    conditions:
      basis: general statement, no load or time limit printed in the source
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Chemical resistance section, first paragraph
    rating: unknown
  - environment: Service range from cold to warm
    headline: Designerdata lists a maximum service temperature of 70 °C and a minimum of -30 °C for LDPE.
    effect: The Designerdata page lists a maximum service temperature of 70 °C and a minimum service temperature of -30 °C. The Xometry data sheet gives a heat deflection temperature of 48 °C under a load it does not name.
    conditions:
      basis: general service limits as printed, not a test
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Specific properties list, Maximum and Minimum service temperature rows
    rating: unknown
  - environment: Acids, bases, alcohols and solvents at room temperature
    headline: LDPE resists dilute and concentrated acids, alcohols and bases, but resistance to hydrocarbons and oxidising agents is limited.
    effect: The Wikipedia article rates resistance as excellent to dilute and concentrated acids, alcohols, bases and esters, limited to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, mineral oils and oxidizing agents, and poor to halogenated hydrocarbons. It says LDPE is not reactive at room temperature except to strong oxidizers, and that some solvents cause it to swell.
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative ratings from a secondary source; no retention figures given
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Chemical resistance section, rating list
    rating: unknown
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: Not classified as dangerous for supply or use under Directive 1999/45/EC and Directive 1272/2008/EC, per the Relene SDS.
      ghs: []
      source: relene-sds
      where: Section 2, Hazards identification
    - text: The Montachem SDS gives the GHS classification as 'Not hazardous according to GHS criteria' for the resin pellets.
      ghs: []
      source: montachem-sds
      where: Section 3, GHS Classification row
    - text: Molten material may cause thermal burns, and dust may form an explosive atmosphere when dispersed in air.
      ghs: []
      source: montachem-sds
      where: Section 2, Emergency Overview
    - text: Spilled material may be a slip hazard, and molten plastic can cause severe thermal burns.
      ghs: []
      source: tricolene-sds
      where: Section 2.3, Other hazards
  failure_risks:
    - mode: UV embrittlement
      trigger: Long UV exposure in service, simulated by ASTM D5208-14 laboratory weathering
      consequence: Elongation at break fell from 1020.2 % unweathered to 5.8 % after 4 weeks in the 2024 MDPI sheet study, so exposed LDPE can lose its flexibility.
      severity: high
      source: mdpi-uv-2024
      where: Results on tensile properties, Figure 1b and 1c
    - mode: Softening above the service limit
      trigger: Use at or above the continuous service limit under a mechanical load
      consequence: LDPE softens, and the Xometry data sheet gives a heat deflection temperature of 48 °C under a load it does not name.
      severity: moderate
      source: xometry-ldpe
      where: Thermal Properties table, Heat deflection row
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: Control dust when grinding or handling pellets, since dust can form an explosive atmosphere when dispersed in air.
      source: montachem-sds
    - text: Clean up spilled pellets promptly, because spilled material may be a slip hazard.
      source: tricolene-sds
  mitigations: []
uses:
  - application: batteries
    device: Battery case
    example: Battery cases are listed among the products made from LDPE in the Wikipedia article.
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Applications section, product list
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Cable insulation
    example: Designerdata lists cable insulation as an LDPE application under electronics.
    source: designerdata-ldpe
    where: Applications section, Electronics line
  - application: radiation-shielding
    device: Polyethylene baseline shield in ground radiation tests
    example: The NASA report calls neat polyethylene and aluminum typical baseline materials for shielding studies. The report tests polyethylene, not LDPE by name.
    source: nasa-shielding-rojdev
    where: Section on borated and lithium-doped polyethylene, comparison with neat polyethylene and aluminum
supply:
  - subject: Low-density polyethylene (worldwide market)
    demand: Wikipedia says the worldwide LDPE market in 2013 'reached a volume of about US$33 billion'.
    routes: LDPE is produced by free-radical polymerization of ethylene under high pressure, the process first used at ICI (Wikipedia). Linear low-density PE uses coordination catalysts instead.
    producers: []
    critical_lists: []
    substitutes: []
    abundance: 'Producers named on the safety data sheets read: Reliance Industries Limited (RELENE LDPE) and Tricon Energy Ltd. (Tricolene LDPE). No country shares or tonnages were found in any source read.'
    source: wikipedia-ldpe
    where: Introduction and History sections
story:
  recipe:
    line: LDPE is made by free-radical polymerization of ethylene at high pressure, the process first used at ICI (Wikipedia, History section). Its branched chains give it a lower crystallinity and density than linear PE (Wikipedia, Properties section).
    parts:
      - name: Carbon
        symbol: C
        role: Forms the backbone of each ethylene unit in the polymer chain.
      - name: Hydrogen
        symbol: H
        role: Fills the remaining bonds of each ethylene unit.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: The safety data sheets read do not classify solid LDPE as hazardous under EU or GHS rules.
      level: 0
      verdict: Not classified in the SDSs read
      points:
        - label: Classification
          line: The Relene SDS says the product is not classified as dangerous for supply or use. The Montachem SDS gives 'Not hazardous according to GHS criteria'.
        - label: Handling
          line: Molten material can cause thermal burns, and dust can form an explosive atmosphere when dispersed in air, per the Montachem SDS.
    - title: If it fails
      lead: The main failure route in the sources read is UV embrittlement, measured in a lab study.
      level: 1
      verdict: Embrittles under UV in a lab test
      points:
        - label: UV exposure
          line: In the 2024 MDPI sheet study, elongation at break fell from 1020.2 % unweathered to 5.8 % after 4 weeks of UV weathering.
  why: LDPE is the flexible, low-density grade of polyethylene. The Xometry data sheet gives a density of 0.918 g/cm3 and an elongation at break of 100 %, and the datasheets read use LDPE for films, bags, coatings and cable insulation. UV exposure is the main concern for exposed use, as the 2024 MDPI sheet study shows.
  can_do:
    - label: Stretch and flex
      benchmark: elongation
      line: The Xometry data sheet gives an elongation at break of 100 %, and the Plastics International ASTM D-638 row gives 515 %.
    - label: Resist acids and bases
      line: At room temperature LDPE resists most acids and bases, according to the Wikipedia chemical resistance ratings.
    - label: Insulate cables
      benchmark: dielectric_strength
      line: Designerdata lists a breakdown potential of 28.55 kV/mm for LDPE, and cable insulation is an LDPE use it names.
  uses:
    - where: Electrical and battery products
      line: Battery cases are listed among LDPE products, and cable insulation is listed as an electronics use on Designerdata.
    - where: Shielding studies
      line: NASA radiation tests use neat polyethylene as a typical baseline material; the report does not name LDPE.
    - where: Packaging
      line: Wikipedia names plastic bags as LDPE's most common use, and Designerdata lists packaging foils and shrink wrap.
  compare: LDPE is less dense and less crystalline than linear HDPE, which gives it a lower tensile strength and higher resilience, as the Wikipedia article explains. The values in this profile come from generic datasheets, safety data sheets and one lab UV study, so they cannot rank LDPE against the other polymer profiles in this set.
  compare_rows:
    - scope: material
      label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - scope: material
      label: Elongation at break
      benchmark: elongation
    - scope: material
      label: Melting point
      benchmark: melting_point
  handling:
    - Control dust when grinding or handling pellets, since the Montachem SDS notes that dust can form an explosive atmosphere.
    - Clean up spilled pellets promptly, because they are slippery (Tricolene SDS, Section 2.3).
    - Treat molten LDPE as a burn hazard and wear heat-resistant gloves when handling hot material (Montachem SDS, Section 8).
  good_for:
    - Packaging foils, plastic bags and shrink wrap, according to the Designerdata applications list.
    - Cable insulation, according to the Designerdata electronics applications line.
    - Laboratory wash bottles, according to the Designerdata applications list.
  watch_out:
    - 'UV: elongation at break fell to 5.8 % after 4 weeks of UV weathering in the 2024 MDPI sheet study, so exposed parts need UV protection that this profile does not quantify.'
    - 'Heat: the Xometry data sheet gives a heat deflection temperature of 48 °C, and Wikipedia gives 65 °C as the continuous service limit.'
    - 'Melting values differ between sources: 115 °C on the Xometry data sheet and a range of 104 to 115 °C on the Relene SDS.'
    - 'Space exposure: no LDPE outgassing, erosion or radiation value was found in the sources read.'
  verdict: 'LDPE is a flexible, low-density polyethylene with a density of 0.918 g/cm3 on a generic datasheet, and the safety data sheets read class the resin as not hazardous. Its weak point is UV: in a lab study elongation at break fell to 5.8 % after 4 weeks, and this profile holds no LDPE outgassing or erosion value.'
documents:
  - title: Xometry LDPE data sheet
    type: datasheet
    url: https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LDPE.pdf
  - title: Plastics International LDPE data sheet
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.plasticsintl.com/media/1bhhdvgs/ldpe-data-sheet.pdf
  - title: Designerdata, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) material data
    type: datasheet
    url: https://designerdata.nl/materialen/kunststoffen/thermoplasten/low-density-polyetheen
  - title: Montachem Exelene LDPE Plastic Resin MSDS, revision 06/25/2022
    type: sds
    url: https://montachem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LDPE-MSDS-English-V1.1.pdf
  - title: Reliance Industries RELENE LDPE Material Safety Data Sheet, revision 10
    type: sds
    url: https://www.ril.com/sites/default/files/2023-01/MSDS_Relene_LDPE.pdf
  - title: Tricon Energy Tricolene LDPE Safety Data Sheet, revised 17 February 2022
    type: sds
    url: https://www.triconenergy.com/media/kohlojbp/tricolene-ldpe-sds-english-2022-02-17.pdf
  - title: Du, Lee and Ji, Study of Factors Affecting UV-Induced Photo-Degradation in Different Types of Polyethylene Sheets, Polymers 16(19), 2709
    type: paper
    url: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/19/2709
  - title: Rojdev, Atwell, Wilkins, Gersey and Badavi, Evaluation of Multi-Functional Materials for Deep Space Radiation Shielding
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20090020691/downloads/20090020691.pdf
  - title: Banks, de Groh and Backus, Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit, NASA/TM-2008-215490
    type: report
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
gaps:
  - All datasheet values are generic LDPE values with no grade named. The Xometry and Designerdata pages cite no test standard, so the conditions recorded are as far as those pages state.
  - Electrical resistivity and thermal expansion are printed with exponent notation on the Xometry and Designerdata pages and are not recorded, because the printed form cannot be matched.
  - The NASA TM-2008-215490 erosion yields for polyethylene are printed with exponent notation, and the table does not say LDPE or HDPE. Nothing from that table is recorded for LDPE.
  - No outgassing (total mass loss or collected volatile condensable material), radiation or thermal-cycling value for LDPE in space was found in the sources read.
  - Chemical resistance is qualitative in the sources read. No retention figure for acids, bases or solvents was found.
  - Producers and their country shares or tonnages were not found in any source read. The safety data sheets name Reliance Industries and Tricon Energy without figures.
  - No standard designation (UNS, EN, ASTM type or trade number) for LDPE grades was printed in a source read, so none is listed.
  - Shore hardness values on the Designerdata and Plastics International pages are not recorded, because no canonical property name fits the scale.
  - Auto-ignition temperature and minimum ignition energy from the Relene SDS, and the decomposition onset from the Tricolene SDS, are not recorded, because no canonical property name fits them.
  - The UV weathering values come from one laboratory study of a lab-made sheet with antioxidants. They are not a service test.
  - The NASA radiation shielding report tests neat polyethylene, not LDPE by name. No LDPE shielding value was recorded from it.
sources:
  xometry-ldpe:
    title: Xometry LDPE data sheet (Low Density Polyethylene)
    id: Xometry data sheet, Thermal, Mechanical and Physical Properties tables
    url: https://xometry.asia/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/LDPE.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: manufacturing service data sheet, linked not reproduced
  plasticsintl-ldpe:
    title: Plastics International LDPE data sheet
    id: Property table with ASTM test methods, all values at 73 °F (23 °C) unless otherwise noted
    url: https://www.plasticsintl.com/media/1bhhdvgs/ldpe-data-sheet.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier data sheet, linked not reproduced
  designerdata-ldpe:
    title: Designerdata, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
    id: Specific properties and material property list (English page text)
    url: https://designerdata.nl/materialen/kunststoffen/thermoplasten/low-density-polyetheen
    kind: datasheet
    license: web page, linked not reproduced
  wikipedia-ldpe:
    title: Low-density polyethylene, Wikipedia
    id: Properties, Chemical resistance, Applications, History and Recycling sections
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_polyethylene
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA 4.0, linked not reproduced
  mdpi-uv-2024:
    title: Study of Factors Affecting UV-Induced Photo-Degradation in Different Types of Polyethylene Sheets
    id: Du, Lee and Ji, Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2709, DOI 10.3390/polym16192709; full text read from Europe PMC (PMC11478657)
    url: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/PMC11478657/fullTextXML
    year: 2024
    kind: paper
    license: open access article, linked not reproduced
  montachem-sds:
    title: Montachem International, Exelene LDPE Plastic Resin MSDS
    id: LDPE MSDS Revision Date 06/25/2022, English V1.1
    url: https://montachem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/LDPE-MSDS-English-V1.1.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier SDS, linked not reproduced
  relene-sds:
    title: Reliance Industries, RELENE LDPE Material Safety Data Sheet
    id: Revision 10, 01 July 2022
    url: https://www.ril.com/sites/default/files/2023-01/MSDS_Relene_LDPE.pdf
    year: 2022
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier SDS, linked not reproduced
  tricolene-sds:
    title: Tricon Energy, Tricolene LDPE Safety Data Sheet
    id: Revised February 17, 2022
    url: https://www.triconenergy.com/media/kohlojbp/tricolene-ldpe-sds-english-2022-02-17.pdf
    year: 2022
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier SDS, linked not reproduced
  nasa-shielding-rojdev:
    title: Evaluation of Multi-Functional Materials for Deep Space Radiation Shielding
    id: Rojdev, Atwell, Wilkins, Gersey and Badavi, NASA NTRS 20090020691
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20090020691/downloads/20090020691.pdf
    kind: report
    license: NASA public document
  nasa-tm-2008-215490:
    title: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit
    id: NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, de Groh and Backus), NTRS 20090011780
    url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
    kind: report
    license: NASA public document
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 35
  unreachable: 0
  caveats: 4
  note: 'Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from the pages named in each entry. The Xometry, Plastics International and Designerdata values are generic LDPE values with no grade named. The MDPI values are from one lab-made sheet. The Relene and Tricolene values are safety data sheet values, not datasheet values. Caveats: no test standard on the Xometry and Designerdata pages, Designerdata melting values not recorded because they conflict with its own text, flash point is a lower limit.'