ForMatter/Materials/polymer/High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
mat_polyethylene_hdpe

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

semi-crystalline thermoplastic, polyolefin, commodity · HDPE, PE-HD, high-density polyethylene
highlast updated 2026-04-27
metallic 0.00
hue shift +0°

The polyethylene milk jugs, detergent bottles, traffic bollards, drinking-water pipes, kayaks, and outdoor playground equipment are made of. Cheap, tough, chemical-resistant, and recyclable as #2 in nearly every municipal stream. The most-produced thermoplastic on Earth by mass — about 60 million tons a year.

Semi-crystalline polyethylene with low branching, density 0.94–0.97 g/cm³. Tm 130–135 °C, Tg -120 °C. Tensile 25 MPa, elongation 600%. Excellent chemical resistance — survives nearly every common acid, base, and solvent at room temperature. Surface energy low; joins by ultrasonic welding or hot-plate welding. UV-degrades without carbon-black or HALS stabilization.

mechanical

  • tensile_strength_mpa25
  • yield_strength_mpa23
  • elastic_modulus_gpa1.0
  • elongation_pct_at_break600
  • density_kg_m3950
source: MakeItFrom; LyondellBasell HDPE datasheet

thermal

  • melting_point_c132
  • service_max_c80
source: LyondellBasell datasheet

Sustainability

  • embodied carbon kg co2e per kg1.85
  • sourceEditorial estimate from ICE / Granta CES EduPack class databases — industry mean, with cradle-to-gate boundary unless otherwise noted. Embodied carbon for any specific product depends on supplier mix, recycled content, and energy grid; verify against a primary source before using these numbers in a sustainability claim.
  • embodied carbon recycled kg co2e per kg0.45
  • recyclabilityvery high — RIC #2 stream, mainstream curbside collection in most municipalities
  • biodegradableFalse
  • certificationsFDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (food contact)
visual
natural translucent white; pigments universally; characteristic waxy semi-gloss on blow-molded surfaces
tactile
warm to the touch, smooth, slightly waxy

PBR starter values

Principled BSDF defaults derived from the sphere matte finish. Reasonable seed for Blender, Substance, Keyshot, Rhino — tune per material.

# finish:      matte
albedo        #e0e2e4
metallic      0.00
roughness     0.75
ior           1.45
transmission  0.00
clearcoat     0.00
sheen         0.00
anisotropic   0.00
copy as JSON 
{
  "albedo": "#e0e2e4",
  "metallic": 0.0,
  "roughness": 0.75,
  "ior": 1.45,
  "transmission": 0.0,
  "clearcoat": 0.0,
  "sheen": 0.0,
  "anisotropic": 0.0
}
Blender 4.x Python 
# Blender 4.x — Principled BSDF
# High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) · finish: matte
import bpy
mat = bpy.data.materials.new(name="mat_polyethylene_hdpe")
mat.use_nodes = True
bsdf = mat.node_tree.nodes["Principled BSDF"]
bsdf.inputs["Base Color"].default_value         = (0.7454, 0.7605, 0.7758, 1.0)
bsdf.inputs["Metallic"].default_value           = 0.000
bsdf.inputs["Roughness"].default_value          = 0.750
bsdf.inputs["IOR"].default_value                = 1.450
bsdf.inputs["Transmission Weight"].default_value = 0.000
bsdf.inputs["Coat Weight"].default_value        = 0.000
bsdf.inputs["Sheen Weight"].default_value       = 0.000
bsdf.inputs["Anisotropic"].default_value        = 0.000
KeyShot Python (lux) 
# KeyShot 11+ — lux Python API, Generic material
# High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) · finish: matte
# Run from Window → Scripting Console
import lux
mat = lux.createMaterial(name="mat_polyethylene_hdpe", materialType="Generic")
mat.setProperty("diffuse",      (224, 226, 228))   # 8-bit sRGB
mat.setProperty("metallic",     0.000)
mat.setProperty("roughness",    0.750)
mat.setProperty("indexOfRefraction", 1.450)
mat.setProperty("transparency", 0.000)
mat.setProperty("coatingWeight", 0.000)
Substance pbrMetalRough 
{
  "_format": "Substance Designer / Painter \u2014 pbrMetalRough constants",
  "_about": "High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) \u00b7 finish: matte",
  "baseColor": {
    "r": 0.7454,
    "g": 0.7605,
    "b": 0.7758
  },
  "metallic": 0.0,
  "roughness": 0.75,
  "ior": 1.45,
  "opacity": 1.0,
  "anisotropyLevel": 0.0,
  "_notes": "Channels listed are the standard Substance pbrMetalRough output. Drop into a Uniform Color node per channel, or as the constant input on a layered stack."
}
glTF 2.0 Metallic-Roughness 
{
  "asset": {
    "version": "2.0",
    "generator": "ForMatter"
  },
  "materials": [
    {
      "name": "mat_polyethylene_hdpe",
      "pbrMetallicRoughness": {
        "baseColorFactor": [
          0.7454,
          0.7605,
          0.7758,
          1.0
        ],
        "metallicFactor": 0.0,
        "roughnessFactor": 0.75
      },
      "extensions": {
        "KHR_materials_ior": {
          "ior": 1.45
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}
USD Preview Surface 
# USD Preview Surface — UsdShade.MaterialLook prim attributes
# High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) · finish: matte
def Material "mat_polyethylene_hdpe" {
    token outputs:surface.connect = </mat_polyethylene_hdpe/PreviewSurface.outputs:surface>

    def Shader "PreviewSurface" {
        uniform token info:id = "UsdPreviewSurface"
        color3f inputs:diffuseColor = (0.7454, 0.7605, 0.7758)
        float   inputs:metallic     = 0.000
        float   inputs:roughness    = 0.750
        float   inputs:ior          = 1.450
        float   inputs:opacity      = 1.000
        float   inputs:clearcoat    = 0.000
        token   outputs:surface
    }
}
↓ download glTF material
ProcessInjection Molding · Extrusion · Vacuum Forming (Thermoforming)
Used inFood Packaging · Water Bottle
Substitutes
Polypropylene Homopolymer (PP)
PETG (Glycol-Modified PET)

Citations