HDPE is the most widely used type of plastic due to its unbranched polymer chains, which makes it super dense and thick, but moldable at the same time. Aside from that, it is malleable, long lasting, impact resistant, lightweight and mold resistant and is easily recyclable! What is there not to like?
HDPE plastic is defined as rigid and low risk, used to produce some shopping bags, milk, detergent, shampoo and oil bottles. HDPE is the most commonly recycled plastic and is considered one of the safest forms of plastic.
The HDPE recycling process is relatively simple and economical and its second use is intended for the production of some toys, pipes, truck covers (weather-resistant), litter bins or park benches.
Unlike PET it is easier to identify in case of dispersion in the water as it is less dense, so it floats.
AKA “The world’s most loved plastic”
HISTORY
The landmark breakthrough in the commercial production of polyethylene began with the development of catalysts that promoted the polymerization at mild temperatures and pressures. The first of these was a catalyst based on chromium trioxide discovered in 1951 by Robert Banks and J. Paul Hogan at Phillips Petroleum.[14] In 1953 the German chemist Karl Ziegler developed a catalytic system based on titanium halides and organoaluminium compounds that worked at even milder conditions than the Phillips catalyst. The Phillips catalyst is less expensive and easier to work with, however, and both methods are heavily used industrially. By the end of the 1950s both the Phillips- and Ziegler-type catalysts were being used for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) production.
SAFETY
Although its safety has been universally accepted, HDPE has been linked to contain estrogen mimicking compounds that are stimulated to release when exposed under UV light. It is linked to hormonal imbalance issues.
Credits: Polyethylene – Wikipedia and Get to Know the 7 Types of Plastic- Plastics 101 | by The Physics Society | Medium
