What is high density polyethylene?

HDPE geomembranes gained popularity over traditional PVC geomembranes in the early 1980s due to their broad-spectrum chemical resistance and their ability to be thermally bonded instead of using solvent cements and glues. In those days PVC geomembrane seams were peelable while HDPE thermal fusion seams were not.

HDPE is a hugely popular product due to its UV resistance, low cost, versatile mechanical properties and very good overall chemical resistance. The low material cost of HDPE resins allows the use of thicker liner cross sections compared to other more expensive geomembrane materials, thus providing greater resistance to puncture and abrasion.

HDPE is the cheapest industrial geomembrane (per mm thickness) available on the market, therefore, it is generally the first geomembrane material to be considered for a geomembrane application and is only rejected in cases where there are sound scientific reasons not to use it.

In practice, HDPE is currently the most selected geomembrane material, being chosen in 95% of geomembrane applications.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a thermoplastic polymer created by the polymerization of ethylene. Because it is one of the most versatile plastic materials, HDPE plastic is used in a wide variety of applications, although the ones that interest us today are those related to toxic waste containment and water storage.

Known for its excellent tensile strength and high strength to density ratio, high density polyethylene has high resistance to impact, ultraviolet radiation, weathering and corrosion.

HDPE is the material of obligatory application and has become the world standard in the field of environmental protection applications: landfills, landfill sealing and in general all those applications in which the combination of three fundamental properties is required: maximum chemical resistance, maximum resistance to weathering (ultraviolet radiation and aging due to atmospheric thermal cycles) and impenetrability to most gases which, in this type of application, are usually present together with the product to be contained.

By extension and given its specific characteristics, it is also the product par excellence in applications for water storage and hydraulic works in general (canals, lagoon purification, golf course lakes, aquaculture…).

These are some of the most common applications of HDPE:

• Aquaculture [enlace a aplicación]
• Water Ponds [enlace a aplicación]
• Wastewater Treatment Lagoon [enlace a aplicación]
• Ornamental Lakes [enlace a aplicación]
• Landfill Sealing [enlace a aplicación]
• Landfills [enlace a aplicación]
• Leaching Stations and Tailings Dams [enlace a aplicación]
• Corrosion Protection [enlace a aplicación]
• Vertical Screens [enlace a aplicación]
• Erosion Control [enlace a aplicación]
• Secondary Containment [enlace a aplicación]
• Linear and Surface Works [enlace a aplicación]
• Margin Consolidation [enlace a aplicación]
• Special Applications [enlace a aplicación]
• Soil Separation [enlace a aplicación]
• Channels and pipelines [enlace a aplicación]
• Lagooning Desalination [enlace a aplicación]
• Landfill Base [enlace a aplicación]

What are the benefits of HDPE high density polyethylene?

The high density polyethylene geomembranes (HDPE) [enlace a categoría] that we manufacture at ATARFIL have proven to be able to offer an unprecedented payback thanks to their high resistance, as they are able to completely reduce the environmental damage caused by toxic waste in the short, medium and long term.

The most limiting material property for HDPE geomembranes is their resistance to stress cracking (SCR). SCR is the most important property of HDPE that determines its long-term mechanical durability and its resistance to mechanical damage due to stresses imposed during welding. This problem will be mitigated by screening geomembranes with very high stress cracking resistance (> 3,000h).

1. Easily meltable and moldable

One of the main benefits of high-density polyethylene comes from its malleability. Because it has a high melting point, HDPE remains rigid up to very high temperatures. However, once it has reached its melting point, the plastic material can be molded quickly and efficiently for use in a variety of applications such as those mentioned above.

Corrosion resistance

High-density polyethylene resists mold, corrosion and rot, making it the ideal material for geomembrane fabrication. Long-lasting and weather-resistant, HDPE can withstand most strong mineral acids and bases and has excellent resistance to chemicals found naturally in soil. In addition, the material is virtually impervious to most common chemicals, water, solvents, acids, detergents and cleaning fluids.

3. High strength to density ratio

The density of HDPE can range from 0.93 to 0.97 g, although the density of HDPE is only marginally higher than that of LLDPE (low density polyethylene). However, when under the microscope, the linear structure of HDPE means that the material has little branching, which gives it stronger intermolecular forces and higher tensile strength than LLDPE. It is for this reason that a 60-gram high-density polyethylene container can safely carry almost four liters of liquid or approximately three and a half kilograms in weight.

4. Easily recycled

Considering the amount of plastic we use in our daily lives, one of the most important factors when deciding on a plastic material is whether it is easily recyclable. Fortunately, high-density polyethylene is 100 percent recyclable, so if you’re looking for a cost-effective and environmentally responsible material, HDPE is what you need.

Why choose ATARFIL high density polyethylene geomembranes?

We manufacture in our own production facilities with the highest quality raw materials, allowing us to offer an ideal waste containment and water storage solution for application in all types of sustainable and affordable projects. Our high-density polyethylene geomembranes offer the perfect combination of strength, cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness.