Overview of HDPE Pipe Raw Materials: The need for strict standards

The need to have strict standards for HDPE pipe comes from the fact that they can be made using multiple different plastic granules. While all of these pipes will look the same, they vary vastly in their performance. Some may last 5 months while others can last 50+ years.

To standardise quality, and promote HDPE pipes, International standards were formed during the early 1990s. This helped make their usage widespread for critical applications such as gas, potable water, sewerage, etc. 

PE100+, an international association consisting of 14 HDPE raw material manufacturers was formed in 1999 by Borealis, Elenac and Solvay to build trust in high-quality PE materials and assure consistent quality at the highest level in the production and application of PE 100+ pipe materials

International standards divide HDPE pipe raw materials into 5 types: PE32, PE40, PE63, PE80 and PE100, we will focus on the standards, and materials used widely in India. 

Before we deep dive into the types of HDPE raw materials used for making pipes, let us understand the difference between Natural, & pre-compounded materials. 

1. HDPE PE63, PE80, & PE100 Raw Materials

Natural	Pre-compounded
Translucent in colour	Generally black, or orange in colour
Carbon Black masterbatch needed for UV dispersion	Better UV resistance since pre-compounded black material gives uniform dispersion of Carbon Black.
Pipe Producers need to add additives & hence consistency is comparatively low.	Higher consistency of pipe with low effort
	Preferred for high-strength HDPE fittings manufacturing
Examples: Sabic 6006N, Lotte M7100, Gail P52A003, Reliance 46GP003	Examples: Sabic 6006AD, Borouge 3490LS, Basell Hostalen CRP100

Comparison between using Natural material with masterbatch vs Pre-compounded black PE100 raw material. Picture only for representation purposes. Does not represnt actual granules.

PE100+ Association has written a detailed blog comparing the differences in manufacturing processes & their effects on the output of HDPE pipe here.

	PE63	PE80	PE100
Density	Lower	Intermediate	Higher
Melt Flow Rate (MFR)	Lower	Intermediate	Higher
Flexural Modulus (MPa)	Lower	Intermediate	Higher
MRS	6.3  MPa	8 to 10 MPa	10 or 10+ MPa
Pressure Rating	Lower	Intermediate	Higher
Applications	• low-medium pressure piping systems • irrigation system	• Gas pipe for natural gas distribution network with a pressure rate of up to 4 bars • Drinking water pipes with pressure rates up to 16 bar • Sewers, outfall pipes, industrial pipes	• Mining Pipes • Pipe Fittings • Water Supply  • Gas Distribution
HDPE Pipe Grades	• Reliance 46GP009 • IOCL 010DP45 • Haldia P5200	• Borouge HE3470LS Black • Reliance 45GP004 • Opal P51H10	• Borouge 3490LS Black • HMEL P0049D • Opal P50H03

• Pressure Pipe HDPE Raw Materials: Indian standards for PE63, PE80, & PE100 raw materials are based upon ambient temperature of 30°C but can function optimally up to 60°C. I have explained the characteristics of HDPE pipe before comparing these 3 grades. 

• MFR/ MFI (Melt Flow Rate/ Index) tells us how smoothly a polymer will melt & flow during extrusion under standard conditions. High MFR indicates low density and easy flow, while low MFR suggests a more dense and challenging-to-process material.

• Flexural Modulus is a measure of a material's stiffness in bending. It represents how much a material will deform under a bending load. It is expressed in units of pressure, typically in Pascals (Pa) or Megapascals (MPa).

• MRS is a parameter specific to the classification of polyethene (PE) pipes. It indicates the minimum strength required for the material to withstand long-term stress without failure. It is useful while determining applications of HDPE raw materials. 

• ESCR (Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance) is a crucial property in the evaluation of the durability and performance of polyethene (PE) materials, particularly in applications where the material is exposed to harsh environmental conditions. 
  

2. MDPE Raw Materials

MDPE pipe made from Borouge ME3441 pre-compounded yellow MDPE80

There seems to be a lot of confusion in the industry regarding the differences between MDPE, & PE80 material. Most people think that MDPE is just another name for PE80 raw material. Both the materials are very different and this confusion arises since both MDPE and HDPE materials can be classified as PE80.

Grade	Colour	Material Type	MFR (g/10mn@ 190°C/5kg)	Density (Kg/m3 )	Typical applications
ME3440	Black	MDPE80	0.85	951	Water, gas, industrial
ME3441	Yellow	MDPE80	0.80	944	Gas
ME3444	Blue	MDPE80	0.80	947	Water
HE3480-LS	Black	HDPE80	0.30	956	Industrial, district heating

As is clear from the above table, while MDPE material can be classified as PE80, it has a much lower density & hence, higher MFI. It is used extensively to manufacture natural gas-carrying pipes. You can contact us to book specialised MDPE material, Borouge grades for your consumption. or to just enquire about polymer prices. 

3. Non-Pressure Pipe HDPE Raw Materials

These plastic raw materials manufacture pipes where the fluids or substances are not under significant pressure. Common applications include DWC pipes, cable conduits, and corrugated & gravity pipe segments. Below listed are some most commonly used official grades used by Indian Manufacturers for manufacturing non-pressure pipes:

• Sabic 4808N

• Sabic 5307N

• Sabic P952

Pipes can be extruded using multiple types of HDPE: Blow moulding, raffia, HM, etc. Hence, as per regional availability of material & specific requirements, all of these grades are used to manufacture HDPE pipes for various purposes. Some of the most commonly used grades are:

Type	Material
Blow Molding	IOCL 012DB54, HMEL B168
Blow Molding OG	HMEL OGHDBD, Hilene OG
HM	Luban 6095, Equate 6888
Monofilament & Raffia	Haldia T9C, Gail Y50

While versatile, & strong, It can be tough to determine the contents & longevity of HDPE pipes without proper testing & overview. This may lead to sub-par material getting approved for usage in critical situations. We can help you procure your desired plastic granules for domestic, import, & export at competitive rates. Use the icon on the bottom right to contact us & get daily plastic price updates. Always looking forward to chatting with fellow industry members.