• Low Density and High Density
• Most highly used material at Rubbermaid Commercial Products
• Used primarily in thin-walled parts
• High impact resistance
• Very durable (5 - 10 years, or more)
• Opaque
• Less expensive than all other plastics

- Low Density Polyethylene

• Used at high and low temperatures
• Relatively flexible
• Will deform with excess weight

- High Density Polyethylene

• More rigid than Low Density Polyethylene
• Supports more weight without deformation
• More brittle at low temperature than LDPE

• More rigid than both types of polyethylene
• Not good for low temperatures
• Ideal for interior applications
• Resin is slightly more expensive than polyethylene

• More rigid than either polyethylene or polypropylene
• Moderate impact strength
• About same temperature performance as polyethylene
• Better appearance than either polyethylene or polypropylene
• Good for interior applications
• Can be transparent

• Transparency of crystal
• Brilliant in colours
• Impact resistant
• Moderate rigidity
• Stain resistant
• Use temperature -40° to 100°C
• Scratch sensitive
• Resin is expensive (approx. 4x Polyethylene)

• Very resistant to chemicals
• High strength, Very rigid, Very tough
• Wear resistant
• High temperature uses

• Transparent
• High Temperature resistance
• Impact resistance
• Moderate rigidity
• Use temperature -40° to 190°C
• Scratch sensitive
• Resin is expensive (approx. 10x Polyethylene)

• Melted resin is forced into mould
• Most common process used at Rubbermaid Commercial Products
• High pressure process
• Used in thin-wall parts
• Excellent reproduction of details
• High productivity process
• Low cycle time

• Special injection moulding process
• Utilizes two materials
• Injected into mould separately
• Results in fused components with differing properties
• Allows for specialized performance where needed

• Resin forced into mould with nitrogen gas (foam agent)
• Lower pressure process
• Gas voids confer rigidity & reduce weight
• Products can support weight without deforming
• Swirled surface appearance from nitrogen
• Porous; more difficult to clean than structural web
• Used with polyethylene, polypropylene & ABS

• Similar to Structural Foam Moulding
• Utilises same equipment & materials
• Thicker walls with large voids of air
• Results in hollow channels (web-effect)
• Reduces weight & maintains strength
• Smooth surface rather than swirled

• Resin melted and distributed by centrifugal force in an oven heated mould
• Well suited to very large products
• Less detail reproduction (can’t have fine detail)
• Long cycle time
• Textured surface
• Used with polyethylene