Why WeProFab HDPE rod

WeProFab HDPE rod is manufacturing high quality of HDPE rod not just an ordinary type of rod but a durable and contains good chemical resistance.

Our HDPE rod has low density with a good defense against the pressure that may cause to explode.

Most of all food safe. Our HDPE rod can be applicable in several applications like equipment in medical applications, tanks,  plumbing or water storage, and parts for the food industry.

HDPE rod has an outstanding strength with magnificent opposition to any chemicals and corrosion-resistant.

Our HDPE rod is made of versatile plastic that came in rods, sheets, or form of welding rod.

All of our HDPE rods offer greater strength with maximum temperature and can’t easily be destroyed.

HDPE rod has good moisture absorption that can withstand solvent, bases, and acids.

Weprofab is the leading manufacturer of HDPE rod that has the widest range of materials, shapes, sizes, and colours that may absolutely meet the requirements of OEM and manufacturers worldwide with extraordinary services, very affordable pricing, and unparalleled adherence to quality.

At Weprofab, we have a vast experience of the engineering team to work with you to provide and upgrade the performance of the products.

The caliber of our factory products is firm and the mass production proportion is in the major level in China.

To reach our main objectives we continue to improve our systems to maximize the satisfaction of our clients.

Relying on Weprofab, you can find different HDPE rod, welding rod, plastic HDPE rod, and many more.

You can always pick the HDPE rod for your acquired business.

We have a huge selection of HDPE with a competitive pricing.

All of our HDPE rods are quality guaranteed.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Our team will give you feedback immediately.

The Ultimate FAQ Guide to HDPE Rod

If you have questions on HDPE rods, you have come to the right place.

This guide has information on everything about HDPE rods including the advantages and disadvantages, comparison to other plastic materials and many more.

You will also learn a lot about what you can do with HDPE rods.

This ultimate FAQ guide has all the answers you will ever need.

What is a HDPE Rod?

 HDPE rod

HDPE is High Density Polyethylenewhich is stronger than standard polyethylene.

It is a versatile polymer which has high impact resistance and chemical resistance.

It is also abrasion resistant and used in applications where sand, gravel and grit are present.

You can use HDPE rods in bearings and rollers due to its low friction.

You can also use HDPE material in packaging including crates, trays and bottles, pipes, wiring, automotive fuel tanks and ropes.

HDPE is very cost-effective among similar plastics and only PP (polypropylene) is cheaper.

What Are The Advantages Of HDPE Rod?

If you are looking to use HDPE rods, you will experience the following advantages:

• Lightweight and strong

HDPE rods are one-eighth the weight of steel while being able to support a lot of weight.

You can use HDPE material in water pipe flanges and chemical tanks because of its strength.

• Impact resistant

HDPE will not crack or shatter if it is hit by something.

This makes it a good material for hoppers and chutes which move and vibrate.

• High tensile strength

HDPE has higher tensile strength than other materials you may be considering including PTFE, PP and LDPE.

• Weather resistant

You can use HDPE rods in many outdoor applications as it can resist extreme weather conditions without wearing down.

• Durable

HDPE rods will outlast many other materials you may use because of its resistance to chemicals, impact and scratches.

• Resistant to mold, rotting and insects

You will not find moldy or rotting HDPE material.

This is because HDPE does not absorb moisture.

This is why you can use HDPE in chutes, silos, hoppers or tanks without having to be concerned about mold or rot forming.

• Low friction

HDPE has a low coefficient of friction, which makes it easier to slide over another surface.

Lower friction means less wear and tear so you will not have to replace HDPE rods as often.

• Malleable

You can mold HDPE rods into any other shape very easily.

In fact, you can use HDPE material for playground systems with its various shapes because of its malleability.

• Can be recycled

HDPE rods are extremely easy to recycle without the plastic losing any of its properties.

You can recycle HDPE rods up to 10 times.

What Are The Disadvantages Of HDPE Rod?

While HDPE rods are great for some applications, you may experience the following issues when using HDPE rods:

• Difficult to bond using adhesives and glue

You will find it difficult to find glue that can stick HDPE rods to another material.

HDPE has low surface energy.

You usually have to weld HDPE rods to bond it to something else.

• May crack under high stress

HDPE rods may crack under stress which includes top-load stress, environmental stress and internal pressure.

If you need a very crack-resistant material, HDPE may not be the top choice for you.

Are HDPE Rods Flexible?

HDPE rods are not as flexible as LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) rods.

They are more rigid and hence you canuse them in kayaks, tanks and containers.

Are HDPE Rods Harmful?

No, HDPE rods are not toxic when you use them. It also does not leak toxic chemicals.

Are HDPE Rods Biodegradable?

No, they are not biodegradable and take thousands of years to decompose.

However, you can recycle HDPE rods.

Can You Weld HDPE Rods?

Yes, HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer soyou can weld HDPE rods.

Three techniques called extrusion welding,hot gas welding and speed tip welding are commonly used when you weld HDPE rods.

• Extrusion welding

Extrusion welding involves drawing a welding rod into a small plastic extruder.

The rod is forced out of the extruder to the area where the parts are being joined.

Hot air is then blown on the rod to allow plastic bonding to take place.

• Hot gas welding

You can do hot gas welding using a hot air welder, which is a heat gun specially designed for this purpose.

The heat gun produces hot air which softens the parts to be joined and the plastic welding rod.

You can use this method in the manufacture of chemical tanks, water tanks and plumbing fitting.

This is a very fast process as two sheets of plastic can be heated via the hot air and then rolled together.

• Speed tip welding

When you use speed tip welding, the plastic welder has a feed tube for the welding rod.

The speed tip heats up the welding rod and the substrate, while pressing the melted welding rod into the right position.

You then lay softened plastic onto the joint and the welding rod fuses with the parts.

This method can be used in tight corners and is very fast.

What Is The Welding Temperature of HDPE Rods?

HDPE can be welded at 572°F/300°C.

What Is A HDPE Welding Rod Used For?

You can use HDPE welding rods in many applications including welding water tanks, gas tanks, canoes and kayaks.

They are used to bind two separate pieces of plastics together.

You can use HDPE welding rods to repair gouges in HDPE pipes and sheets, or holes in HDPE pipes and tanks.

Here is a video showing how HDPE welding rods are used to repair holes in kayaks.

High quality welding rods do not have air bubbles in the rods.

Air bubbles would decrease the quality of the welding.

Can You Glue HDPE Rods?

It is difficult to glue HDPE rods and you can only use specially designed adhesives for this.

You can use certain brands of HDPE glue including Pro-poly and TAP Poly-Weld to glue HDPE rods to other materials such as steel, fiberglass and PVC.

This video shows how different types of glue and products can be used to glue HDPE to other plastics.

What Is The Weight Of HDPE Rods?

If you want to find out how heavy HDPE rods are, you can calculate their weight depending on the volume of the HDPE rods you are getting.

HDPE rods have a specific gravity of 0.952-0.965.

Specific gravity is also known as relative density and is the ratio of density of the material relative to water.

By finding the volume of the HDPE rod and multiplying that by its specific gravity, you can calculate the weight of HDPE rods.

What Sizes of HDPE Rods Are Available?

HDPE rods come in various sizes depending on your needs.

You can find them in the following diameters and lengths.

Thickness

You can find HDPE rods with diameters ranging from 10mm to 400mm.

HDPE welding rods are usually smaller and can be found in smaller sizes of 2mm, 3mm, 4mm or 5mm.

HDPE welding rods can be sold in spools due to their small size.

 HDPE welding rod

Length

You can purchase HDPE rods in lengths of 0.5m, 1m or 2m.

What Colours of HDPE Rods Are Available?

HDPE rods are naturally white in colour but are also commonly sold in black colour.

You can also find coloured HDPE rods in the colours of blue, yellow,red, green and more.

Coloured HDPE rods are made through the addition of additives in the plastic extrusion process.

Coloured HDPE rods

What Types of HDPE Rods Are Available?

1. HDPE Round Rod

 Round HDPE rod

Round HDPE rods are the most common type of HDPE rods.

2. HDPE Hollow Rod

 Hollow HDPE rod

Hollow HDPE rods are commonly used for pipes and tubes.

HDPE does not absorb moisture easily and thus it is popular used as HDPE pipes.

3. HDPE Square Rod

Figure 6 e it is a better fit as compared to HDPE round rods.
What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And HMWPE Rods?

HMWPE is High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and you may also recognise its other name, PE500.

HMWPE has longer polymer chains compared to HDPE with higher molecular weights.

HMWPE has a more durable surface than HDPE.

While HDPE has low moisture absorption, HMWPE has zero water absorption.

HMWPE has higher impact strength and lower coefficient of friction compared to HDPE.

It is also self-lubricating.

HDPE is also harder to machine compared to HMWPE.

You will find that HMWPE is commonly used in chopping boards and in food preparation.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And UHMWPE Rods?

UHWMPE rod

UHMWPE is Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene.

You may know its other name, PE1000.

It has extremely long polymer chains with molecular weight between 2 to 6 million.

While HDPE molecules have 700-1800 monomer units per molecule, UHMWPE molecules have 100,000-250,000 monomer units per molecule.

You may have heard of UHMWPE for its exceptionally high impact strength, corrosion resistance and a low friction surface.

It can even withstand temperatures as low as -200 °C, while the lowest temperature HDPE can withstand is -40°C.

When you heat the material to high temperatures, HDPE will slump or melt but UHMWPE will not change shape or size, although it could warp.

If you use a saw to cut HDPE, sawdust or filings will form while UHMW will form strings or nothing at all.

UHMWPE is commonly used as guide rails, chutes, bin and hopper lines, conveyor augers, wear plates and rollers, which are applications with a lot of wear and tear.

You can also use UHMWPE for food handling components and food processing machinery parts.

Bumpers, pile guards, dock fenders, star wheels and idler sprockets are also made using UHMWPE.

How Are HDPE Rods Produced?

HDPE rods are usually made through the extrusion process.

In this process you melt raw HDPE plastic and pressurize it in a jacketed screw.

You then force the molten HDPE plastic into a die that shapes it into a tube.

Let the shape cool down and it will harden.

You can re-extrude scrap parts which reduces plastic waste as plastics can change states from solid to liquid and from liquid to solid without losing any of its distinctive properties.

This video shows you how the plastic extrusion process works.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And Nylon Rods?

 Nylon rod

Nylon is more expensive than HDPE with a higher temperature resistance.

It also has higher tensile strength and bending stiffness than HDPE.

This also means nylon has higher specific gravity (relative density) of 1.15 compared to HDPE’s 0.96.

However, it absorbs moisture.HDPE has low moisture absorption.

Nylon has high stretching power and is resistant to bacteria, fungi and other chemicals.

You can use nylon in a wide variety of applications including fibre cables, flooring, electrical equipment and car parts.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And PTFE Rods?

PTFE rod

PTFE, also known as Teflon, has a higher melting point and is used in applications that require anti-stick characteristics.

You will also find that PTFE can withstand higher temperatures as compared to HDFE and acts as an electrical insulator.

PTFE has lower tensile strength and lower bending flexibility compared to HDPE.

HDFE has also much higher strength to weight compared to PTFE.

You can use PTFE in steam or hot water valves due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and in chemical resistant seals and flanges.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And Acetal Rods?

AcetalDelrinrod

Acetal, or you may know it as Delrin, has lower friction and thermal expansion compared to HDPE.

Acetal is also harder than HDPE with higher tensile strength and bending flexibility.

However, you will find that HDPE is more resistant to wear.

HDPE is also much more cost-effective compared to acetal.

You can use acetalin ball bearings, gear wheels, mechanical equipment, vehicle tanks, sports materials and structural glass in construction sites.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And PVC Rods?

 PVC rod

PVC is polyvinyl chloride, and is lightweight with high strength.

You can use PVC in pipes.

If you’re looking for a hard material, HDPE is harder than PVC.

It can also withstand higher temperatures compared to PVC with more abrasion resistance.

If you break PVC, it does not shatter with as much force.

It can also withstand more joint pressure compared to PVC.

However, you can use PVC in applications with more stress pressure as PVC has a higher tolerance for it.

PVC is also heavier and stronger compared to HDPE.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And ABS Rods?

ABS rod

ABS, or Arcrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, has higher tensile strength and bending flexibility compared to HDPE.

You will find that it has less thermal expansion compared to HDPE.

ABS is commonly used in pipes and valve bodies, while you can use HDPE in a wide range of applications.

ABS has low heat conductivity with stronger impact resistance than HDPE.

You will find that it also has higher strength to weight compared to HDPE.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And PP Rods?

 PP rod

PP is polypropylene, and is another form of plastic you may have seen that is sold in the form of rods.

You may know it for its cheap cost as it has a lower cost than HDPE.

PP is less brittle than HDPE with good resistance to wear.

You can also use PP in hotter environments as it can withstand higher temperatures.

However, HDPE is more impact resistant, has more tensile strength and is a harder material.

HDPE has a higher strength to density ratio.

If you use PP, it will start to crack with prolonged sun exposure. HDPE has much higher UV resistance than PP.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And PEEK Rods?

Figure 13 PEEK rod

PEEK stands for polyether ether ketone. It can withstand higher temperatures and large deformation under load compared to HDPE.

PEEK also generally has higher tensile strength than HDPE.

You may have seen PEEK that is 30% glass filled.

This material has even stronger tensile strength and bending flexibility compared to unfilled PEEK.

It can withstand wear very well but has lower impact strength compared to HDPE.

You can use PEEK in pump gears, bearings, piston parts and cable insulation.

What Is The Difference Between HDPE Rods And LDPE Rods?

 LDPE rod

If you are comparing HDPE rods to LDPE rods, LDPE rods are very flexible with high ductility and low tensile strength.

They tend to stretch when they are strained and are very susceptible to stress cracking.

LDPE has low temperature resistance and low impact resistance.

However, you will find it is much easier to machine while being resistant to corrosion and chemicals.

It is also much less dense than HDPE as it has a density of 0.91-0.925g/cm3.

HDPE, on the other hand, has a density of 0.941-0.965g/cm3.

DPE is much stiffer and harder compared to LDPE.

You can use LDPE as tubing, wash bottles, laboratory equipment and plastic bags.