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Contact Us

ABN

16 098 602 790

Address

8 Silkwood Rise, Carrum Downs,

3201, Victoria, Australia

Telephone

toll-free from within Australia

1300 361 771

Polyethylene Sheets

Design Flow manufactures Matrix Panels plastic sheets in Australia in three types of PolyEthylene (PE), which are available in both virgin (new) materials and recycled materials:

  • High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE)
  • Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE)
  • Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE)

 

Information provided below should help you to choose the correct material for your application based on the mechanical and chemical properties.  You can download our brochure on black and natural HDPE sheets by clicking HERE.

 

Polyethylene is a very versatile group of materials with excellent toughness even at very low temperatures.  It can be easily cut, machined, heat-bent, mechanically fastened and heat welded, which makes it ideal for fabrication of assemblies from components.

 

PE has good resistance to chemical attack.  At room temperature, it is insoluble in most organic solvents but is attacked by strong oxidizing acids.  At higher temperatures it becomes increasingly more susceptible to attack by aromatic, chlorinated and aliphatic hydrocarbons.  PE is resistant to acids, salts & salt solutions, alcohols, oils, fats, waxes & many solvents.  All PE materials are affected by strong oxidizing agents such as nitric acid, chromic acid or halogens.  Aromatics and halogenated hydrocarbons cause swelling.

 

Key Properties of Polyethylene

 

  • Extremely tough and impact resistant, even at very low temperatures
  • Light weight, floats in water, does not absorb water
  • Good chemical resistance including to most acids, bases and solvents
  • Resistant to stains and odours
  • Easy to cut and machine using woodworking tools
  • Weldable using plastic welding equipment
  • Suitable for fabrication using mechanical fasteners but NOT adhesives
  • Bendable when heated (thermoformable)
  • Good sliding properties (low coefficient of friction)
  • Excellent wear (abrasion) resistance
  • Excellent surface release properties (non-stick surface)
  • Resistant to graffiti (not paintable)
  • Very good damping properties
  • Virgin grades are approved for Food Contact
  • Black and UV-stabilised coloured grades are suitable for long term outdoor use
  • Very good electrical insulator

 

Examples of Applications of Polyethylene Sheets

 

  • Chemical and water tanks, pipeline components
  • Hoppers and boxes
  • Scrubbers and grease traps
  • Silo and chute linings to resist sliding abrasion and assist release
  • Wall linings, animal housing, equestrian
  • Commercial cutting boards, die cutting pads
  • Machine parts, guides and fixtures
  • Gears, star wheels and rollers, washers and bushes
  • Signs and parts used outdoors or in water
  • Dock fenders, pontoon and jetty components
  • Conveyor components subject to high wear and requiring low friction
  • Components in direct contact with foodstuffs
  • Parts subject to high impact stresses

 

We manufacture Polyethylene Matrix Panels in three types - High Density PolyEthylene (HDPE), Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density PolyEthylene (LLDPE).

 

 

HDPE

 

HDPE is the most rigid type of polyethylene resin with a Flexural Modulus (resistance to bending) between 1000MPa and 1100MPa depending on the grade.  We manufacture HDPE sheets in a thickness range from 7mm to 60mm (depending on the colour). 

 

HDPE sheets are available in Virgin Natural (translucent white colour), Virgin Black (certified PE100 pipe grade), Recycled Black and a range of solid colours.  You can download our current colour chart by clicking HERE. 

 

All black and coloured HDPE sheets are UV stabilised and are suitable for long-term outdoor use.  Natural HDPE material is manufactured without UV stabilisers so natural HDPE sheets are not suitable for long-outdoor use as they are not protected against deterioration caused by exposure to sunlight.

 

NOTE: Due to the use of recycled raw materials, slight variation in colour may occur from batch to batch.  If exact colour consistency is required, use coloured virgin LLDPE material.

 

The melting temperature of HDPE is about 130ºC and it can be used continuously between -100ºC and +110ºC depending on the mechanical stress level. The density of HDPE is 0.95 to 0.96 grams per cm3. 

 

Chemical resistance of HDPE is follows:

  • Excellent resistance (no attack) to dilute and concentrated Acids, Alcohols and Bases.
  • Good resistance (minor attack) to Aldehydes, Esters, Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Ketones and Mineral and Vegetable Oils.
  • Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for short term use only) to Halogenated Hydrocarbons and Oxidizing Agents.

 

LDPE

 

LDPE is the most flexible type of polyethylene and feels similar to hard rubber.  Its Flexural Modulus (resistance to bending) is between 200MPa and 400MPa depending on the grade.  LDPE is available in a range of thicknesses from 7mm to 19mm thick in Virgin Natural (translucent white) and Recycled Black materials.

 

The melting temperature of LDPE is 120ºC and it can be used continuously between -50ºC and +80ºC. The density of LDPE is 0.92 to 0.93 grams per cm3.

 

Chemical resistance of LDPE is as follows:

  • Excellent resistance (no attack) to dilute and concentrated Acids, Alcohols, Bases and Esters at room temperature
  • Good resistance (minor attack) to Aldehydes, Ketones and Vegetable Oils
  • Limited resistance (moderate attack suitable for short term use only) to Aliphatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Mineral Oils and Oxidizing Agents
  • Poor resistance and not recommended for use with Halogenated Hydrocarbons

 

LLDPE

 

LLDPE (Linear Low Density PolyEthylene) has density, mechanical, chemical and thermal properties between those of HDPE and LDPE.  Its Flexural Modulus is between 500MPa and 700MPa depending on the grade. 

 

Virgin food contact approved LLDPE is available in Natural (translucent white), Black and a range of Bright and Colorbond® colours, in a range of thicknesses from 7mm to 19mm.  All LLDPE sheets are UV stabilised and are suitable for long-term outdoor use. You can download our current LLDPE colour chart by clicking HERE.  

 

 

Standard polyethylene colour range is shown in the table below.  Other colours can be manufactured to Special Order, however minimum order quantities will apply - please contact us for details.

 

Colour Material

HDPE

LLDPE

LDPE

NATURAL (Virgin)

STD

STD

STD

BLACK (Virgin)

STD

STD

N/A

BLACK (Recycled)

STD

N/A

STD

JAZZ (Recycled mix of colours)

S/O

N/A

N/A

WHITE

STD

STD

N/A

YELLOW

STD

STD

N/A

GOLDEN YELLOW

STD

N/A

N/A

RED

STD

STD

N/A

MAGENTA (PINK)

STD

STD

N/A

LIGHT GREEN

STD

STD

N/A

LIME GREEN

STD

STD

N/A

TEAL

STD

STD

N/A

ORANGE

STD

STD

N/A

BLUE

STD

STD

N/A

LIGHT BLUE

STD

STD

N/A

LIGHT GREY

STD

STD

N/A

OFF WHITE

STD

STD

N/A

CAULFIELD GREEN

STD

STD

N/A

MID GREY

STD

STD

N/A

SMOOTH CREAM

STD

STD

N/A

PURPLE

STD

STD

N/A

SLATE GREY

STD

STD

N/A

MIST GREEN

STD

STD

N/A

BROWN

STD

STD

N/A

MERINO

STD

STD

N/A

KEY: STD = Standard Stock material S/O = Special Order; N/A = Not Available

 

The table below shows approximate weight of each sheet and quantity of sheets per pallet:

Nominal thickness (mm)

7

8

9 

12

15

19

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

Approximate weight (kg)

21

24

27

36

46

58

76

88

107

124

140

155

180 

190 

Qty of sheets per pallet

50

40

35

27

22

18

14

10

9

8

8

7

6

6

 
JAZZ SHEETS
Design Flow is the only company in Australia that can manufacture unique HDPE Jazz coloured sheets from any mixture of our standard recycled HDPE colours as shown in the photos below.  These sheets are UV stabilised and can be used indoors or outdoors for fit out, fencing, screening, seating, tables, playground equipment, etc.  
If you have a particular combination of colours in mind, let us know and we can produce sample swatches for your approval before production of sheets.  Minimum order is 1 sheet per colour mix. Available thickness range is 10mm to 50mm. You can download our current colour chart by clicking HERE. 
SANDWICH SHEETS
Design Flow is the only company in Australia that manufactures 3-layer sandwich sheets in any combination of our standard recycled HDPE colours in the middle layer and any one LLDPE colour in the two outer layers.  When the outer layer is machined through to the middle layer, the middle layer is exposed, creating two-colour text or graphics.
These sheets are UV stabilised and can be used indoors or outdoors for signs and playground equipment.  Minimum order is 1 sheet per colour combination. Standard thicknesses are 12mm, 15mm and 19mm. The outer layers are 3mm thick and are the same colour on both sides of the sheet. You can download our sandwich sheet colour chart and brochure by clicking HERE.