Blogs

HDPE and LDPE are derived from polyethene (PE), the most popular plastic used worldwide. These two materials belong to the polyethene family of thermoplastic, extracted from petroleum through the polymerization process. 

Polyethene is generally a mixture of organic compounds and is categorized into different groups based on density and branching. It has a simple molecular structure and is most commonly found in everything, including toys, shopping bags, water bottles, etc. 

The key difference between LDPE and HDPE is the polymer molecule's density or alignment. The difference between LDPE and HDPE is that the HDPE polymers are straight and closely packed, whereas the LDPE polymers are not closely packed and have many branches. 

Another significant difference between these materials is their overall durability and rigidity, as the LDPE bags are more flexible than HDPE bags. This is due to the crystalline structure between these two bags. However, LDPE is known to have a much lower melting point and is most likely to get cracked under high pressure and stress. 

The bags also need to be recycled in different methods, which is why HDPE bags are more widely recycled than LDPE bags. In addition, the HDPE recycling process is more straightforward than recycling LDPE.

The primary attributes of LDPE and HDPE:

LDPE: The transparent plastic bags are flexible, have waterproofing capacity and have incredible chemical resistance. It is utilized in the making of a wide range of products. The most common applications are grocery bags, plastic wrap & films, and injection moulded components.

HDPE: the popular plastic material is known for exhibiting a high impact on strength and durability. It is available in many variations like transparent & opaque. 

LDPE Bags:

LDPE bags (low-density polyethene bags) are soft, flexible and lightweight plastic materials. The bags are less dense because of the increased space between the branches during the polymerization process. This makes it immensely flexible than HDPE bags. They also have better clarity than dense polyethene materials. LDPE bags are easy to tear, which is an advantage while opening the packages. They work excellent with chemicals and are easy to fabricate. 

LDPE bags are produced by either a stirred autoclave or a tubular reactor. It is generally a manufacturing process involving ethylene gas polymerization and gas separation compression. 

LDPE bag's density range is 0.91-0.94g/cm³. The branched polymer is synthesized from ethylene by a catalytic procedure. More branching makes the molecules packing irregular, and intermolecular bonds become weaker than in HDPE bags. As a result, these bags are flexible but can't tolerate higher temperatures.

Advantages:

• Low cost
• Resistant to acids and bases
• Accessible to process and mould
• Good electrical insulation
• Waterproof property

Applications:

• Food items
• Grocery and produce bags
• Corrosion-resistant work surfaces
• Packaging for computer hardware

LDPE is majorly used for Pharmaceutical and API Packaging

It is said that LDPE bags are ideal for pharmaceutical and API packing, which meets the needs at an affordable cost. The bags are essentially long-chain polymers made from ethylene gas through polymerization. This process is performed under high pressure. Therefore, because of this reason, the bags can withstand high ambient temperatures and are highly flexible. In addition, the LDPE bags provide a moisture-free environment and extend the stored products' shelf-life. Such properties are necessary for the pharmaceutical industry. 

The pharmaceutical industry uses these bags for storing and packaging medicines and bulk drugs. This also maintains the consistency of the delivered product and enables the production of high-quality finished goods. E.g., tablets and capsules. 

API:

API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). It is crucial to maintain the effectiveness and quality of the API for producing tablets, capsules and several other drugs. The temperature changes can affect the API products. Because of this reason, the products are packed in pharma-grade bags to preserve their quality and effectiveness from getting damaged. These bags act as a protective barrier to uphold the properties of the API products. 

API LDPE bags are also used with pharma-grade bags, especially while transporting products in powder, beads, or other forms. It generally keeps the APIs away from chemical and biological reactions. These bags can also be provided for various thickness-based requirements, particularly for the transported product. 

Pharma-grade bags:

The pharma-grade bags are made of laminated material, commonly used for pharma product packaging. However, as we know, pharma products are susceptible, and delivering these sensitive products is more challenging for healthcare manufacturers. 

To sustain the efficiency, quality and performance of the medicines, pharma-grade bags are a practical solution for eliminating the risk of leakage and moisture effects and providing the safest delivery of the pharma products. These bags are moisture-free, odourless and even non-toxic. They also have an additional advantage of extending the shelf life of the products. 

Thus, the pharma-grade bags are perfect for protecting bulk tablets, drugs and medical powders, especially from moisture and humidity. In addition, these bags are manufactured without adding additives or chemicals, so there is less chance of adverse effects on the tablets, capsules and drugs packed in pharma-grade bags. 

Pharma-grade bags are available in different sizes and shapes, depending on the product's packaging. Bags are also considered one of the economical ways to protect medicines and drugs from getting affected by moisture and humidity by maintaining the clarity and quality of the film. 

HDPE Bags:

HDPE (high-density polyethene bags) are durable, versatile, low-cost and chemical-resistant plastics. These bags are denser than LDPE bags because of the branching structure of the polymer chain. This makes them more durable and resistant to tear, but these are not much flexible as LDPE bags. Denser and more durable, they are most commonly used for heavy-duty packaging. HDPE bags are also excellent for fabricated water and chemical tanks.

The HDPE bags are generally produced by heating the petroleum at high temperatures using slurry polymerization or phase polymerization. The production process begins with the polymerization solution of ethylene monomers after operation and drying. 

It is manufactured in low temperatures ranging from 70°C to 300°C, rather than LDPE. HDPE is mainly obtained through the catalytic cracking of crude oil into gasoline or natural gases like methane, ethane, etc.

Advantages:

• Low cost
• High tensile strength
• Able to resist low temperature
• Relatively strong and stiff
• Waterproof property
• Good electrical insulation

Applications:

They are commonly used for packaging:

• Construction materials like cement or sand
• Bulk dry goods like rice or grain
• Auto parts and tools
• Chemical containers
• Chemical-resistant piping
• Fuel tanks 
• Food storage containers

Few similarities between both HDPE and LDPE bags:

• Low material weight
• High impact strength
• High recyclability
• Cost-effectiveness
• Low cost of manufacturing
• Resistance to chemicals 

Several similar applications like:

• Packaging
• Pipes & Fittings
• Electrical
• Automotive
• Hydraulics & pneumatics