HDPE is the abbreviated form for "High Density Polyethylene". It is one of the most commonly used resins due to its high strength and relatively low cost compared to other resins. HDPE is an inert resin which is ideal for food grade applications. HDPE also has excellent chemical resistance.

You can purchase HDPE sheet from iPoly or from one of our distributors near you. It is important to know that not all HDPE sheets are created equal. iPoly produces a superior grade due to their intensive R&D history and intimate knowledge of HDPE sheet manufacturing.

Sani-Armor HDPE sheet is formulated with sub-zero service in mind to maintain impact strength and flexibility. It is important that correct installation methods be used when installing HDPE sheet to ensure you do not introduce stress into the sheet. For high impact at extremely cold temperatures please refer to our Mach Polymer sheet.

HDPE sheet is produced from resin that has a water absorption rate of virtually zero, meaning it does not soak up water or other fluids. Due to these properties, HDPE works as well totally submerged under water, as it does out of water.

HDPE is widely known to have excellent chemical resistance. It outperforms most plastics in chemical resistance. Refer to the HDPE Chemical Resistance Chart for more details.

The beauty of HDPE sheet is that it can be cut with tools that many people already have. If you treat it like wood you will be successful in cutting and drilling it. The best result for circular or panel saws is carbide teeth. Standard router bits and jigsaw blades also work well for cutting curved or other geometric profiles. The tool blades need to be sharp for best results.

HDPE sheet is produced with a closed cell structure polymer. This means it will not absorb liquids, but also means that paint or stain will not adhere to it. The best way to obtain a colored sheet is to have it produced that way!  iPoly stocks many colors and can also produce custom colors. The color and pigmentation process for HDPE sheet ensures the color is through the entire sheet, and therefore is better than a surface coating, which could scratch or flake off.

One of the key benefits of HDPE sheet is that dirt and grime cannot grab hold of it, therefore a simple warm/hot soapy water solution will usually do the job. For tougher cleaning jobs a chemical solution may be used. Although HDPE is very chemical resistant, refer to the chemical chart to verify compliance.

Fastening HDPE sheet can be done with mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts. Care should be taken to allow for expansion otherwise the sheet may buckle or pop between fasteners when the temperature gets warmer than installation temperature. We offer color-matched screws for a nice finished look.

HDPE is a "self-healing" polymer which holds screws securely. As the screw passes through the sheet, the polymer heats up and forms itself to the profile of the flutes. Screw retention exponentially increases as the sheet gauge increases. For best results pre-drill a smaller hole prior to fastening screw into it; this will increase the holding power of the fastener as less polymer is displaced.

HDPE sheet is easy to drill with both standard wood working and steel working  drill bits. Spade bits work well for larger holes. For larger holes a hole saw works, however they plug up rather quickly so it should be drilled using multiple depths with cleaning the shavings out in-between. A router or jigsaw(saber saw) will be useful for holes or profiles that are too large for drill bits. Self-augering drill bits do not work well as they cut too aggressively.

Indoor applications experience little to no expansion as the temperature is constant. For outdoor ambient temperature applications, the rule of thumb is that a 4 x 8 sheet will expand as much as 1/2" in length from a hot summer day to sub-zero winter temperatures in cold climates. HDPE sheet expands more in length than in width, due to its molecular structure.

The easiest formula to use for an exact expansion / contraction dimension is as follows:
Degrees Fahrenheit:
0.00011 x degree variance(°F) x length in inches
Example: 0.00011 x 30°F temperature change x 96" long sheet = 0.3168" or approximately 5/16"

Degrees Celsius:
0.00019 x degree variance(°C) x length in inches
Example: 0.0001 x 16.7°F temperature change x 96" long sheet = 0.3173" or approximately 5/16".

While these numbers may seem high, expansion can be easily negated by using correct installation techniques.

Not all HDPE sheet is created equal. This is where iPoly HDPE sheet has risen to the top! Typically most HDPE will break down and fade quickly outdoors. Sani-Armor HDPE sheet is developed specifically for full sun and inclement weather. We have thoroughly tested to ensure it can withstand the harshest elements.

Standard HDPE sheet will fade in the sun. iPoly has developed Sani-Armor HDPE sheet which is engineered to withstand full sun for extended periods of time. Our pigmentation and colorfast process, produces deep vibrant, glossy colors that resist fading in full sun. While some fading over years is inevitable, Sani-Amor HDPE provides years of full outdoor use anywhere in North America.

UV stabilizers are an ultraviolet blocking agent that prevent resin breakdown by light sources such as the sun or lighting fixtures. HDPE resin is not naturally stabilized, however iPoly adds UV inhibitor components during their process, so the sheet is thoroughly stabilized inside and out. This means that the physical strengths of Sani-Armor sheet will not deteriorate when subjected to full sun or other UV light sources.

There are other manufacturers which produce colored HDPE sheet however it is very important how this is done. It is relatively straight-forward to add color and ultraviolet protection (UV). However we have learned through research and real-time outdoor testing, in Florida and Arizona, that this is not enough. Therefore our coloring system includes an engineered UV Pigmentation Process (UPP*) which allows the color to resist fading! This is very important as now your HDPE sheet will retain its color and look vibrant in the application!

The high operating temperature for most HDPE is 160°F (71°C). iPoly has developed Sani-Armor HDPE sheet to withstand 170°F (77°C). As with any material, when you come near to maximum operating temperatures, the physical characteristics will weaken. If your application requires sustained service life that is near the high operating temperature, you should consider alternative materials.

The cold brittleness temperature of HDPE is -50°F (-45°C) This means that HDPE will still perform well, but if impacted at this temperature it may crack. For lower temperature performance a better choice will be our UHMPE sheet.

Yes, HDPE bends nicely! You can cold-form HDPE sheet into a fairly sharp radius quite easily without concern of breakage. Fabricators often use strip heaters to bend HDPE sheet into tight 90° bends to build boxes or other assemblies.

HDPE resin is an opaque color and must be colored during the process. We have standard colors which are popular, however we are not limited to any color. We can make virtually any color under the sun! All our colors follow the same deep cycle pigmentation and colorfast process to ensure high gloss vibrancy for outdoor applications!

The masking is engineered to stay in place and protect the surface right through the machining, fabricating, and installation process. The idea is that the masking be removed just prior to or even after installation. When the HDPE sheet is ready to use, it will have a fantastic, glossy appearance!

Puckboard is a name given to HDPE sheet that is used for arenas and dasher board systems. As the name suggests, puckboard keeps the puck on the ice, provides impact strength, and good "bounce" to put the puck back into play. Puckboard is also a term commonly used in the agricultural market where it became popular by farm operators using old arena sheet when the local facility replaced their hockey boards. While puckboard is classified as an HDPE sheet, it is commonly manufactured using recycled resin for a percentage of its composition. Click on the link to HDPE sheet or call for pricing information.