TECAFINE® HDPE Rod, Annealed

TECAFINE® HDPE is a semi-crystalline high-density polyethylene, a non-polar polyolefin with exceptionally broad chemical compatibility. It resists acids, alkalis, salts and sulphurous compounds, absorbs almost no moisture, and stays tough at low temperature with a brittleness temperature of -105°F and elongation at break above 100%. Tensile strength at yield is 3,400 psi and tensile modulus 85,000 psi, with Izod impact of 1.94 ft-lb/in and Shore D67 hardness. Deflection temperature is 167°F at 66 psi and the Vicat softening point is 261°F. The surface is low-friction and naturally non-stick.

Typical parts include chute and hopper liners, wear strips, conveyor guides and star wheels, tank and pipe fittings, water-treatment hardware, marine and agricultural components, and food and beverage handling parts. It machines quickly, though sharp positive-rake tooling and good chip clearance matter because the material is soft and can smear. Honest limitations: stiffness is low, it creeps under sustained load, and thermal expansion is high at 6.5 x 10^-5 in/in·°F, so hold generous tolerances on close-fitting assemblies. It cannot be adhesive-bonded without surface treatment and is unstable under prolonged UV exposure unless carbon-black pigmented.