HDPE plastic uses

[kach22i]

Is anyone making car or boat parts out of HDPE plastic?

Hovercraft Application..................
http://www.hovpod.com/NewHovPodSPX.html

The new process uses a Structural High-Density Polyethylene Material, which incorporates an enclosed cellular matrix buoyancy component. The material has been used for Formula 1 Race crash barriers in the past, due to its superior impact properties. It is lightweight, and very strong.

Dimensions, Operation, Construction & Performance
http://www.hovpod.com/technical/specification.html


If anyone has more detail than is posted on their website, please post it.

My HDPE questions:

1. Is this a cast material or only a sheet material?

2 Can it be machined

3. How do you glue it, do you have to seal it or paint it?

4. Same density all the way through?

5. Ideal thickness?

6. Will it hold a screw?

7. What does salt water do to it?

9. If near an exhaust system will it melt or deform?

10. If you make a car bumper out of it will it shatter like glass on impact?

Example:
http://www.hovpod.com/workpod/workpodcharacteristics.html


SOME APPLICATIONS HERE:
http://www.redwoodplastics.com/index.php?content=hdpe_and_ldpe

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
Industrial Containers, Houswares, Pails, Food Containers, Marine Ladders, Marine Steps, Fish Boxes, Cabinet Tops, Tote Boxes, Wire Insulators, Fuel Tanks, Trash Containers, Dump Carts, Pallets, Highway Barriers, Cheese Molds, Cutting Boards...etc.

[MattKellett]

Kach

I've machined this material, it machines easily but can warp if you're not carefull. We have bonded this material with a Delrin bonder, as plastic solvents don't work.

All you need to know can be found on this website, a great resourse for material properties.

http://www.matweb.com/

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by MattKellett

Delrin bonder

http://www.matweb.com/

I didn't know Derlin could be bonded.

Thanks for the link.

[juanbenae]

it is used for storm drain line (pipe) and is prett strong stuff. it would melt though if it was experiencing the heat i do on my fiberglass unit from the exhaust on a rear 911 bumper

[MattKellett]

We tried the adhesive from mcmaster carr and were surprised that it worked.

It is listed in their website as - Epoxy for Difficult-to-Bond Plastics #7513A1

I can't remember who made it, either loctite or 3m.

[BGCarrera32]

The most realistic use for an HDPE sheet in your application would be to thermoform a hull or structural piece; think the plastic bottom of a small duck boat or peddle-type boat.

[M.D. Holloway]

HDPE is a good, cheap plastic but I think you are going to have to re-enforce it with fibers. There is tons of info out there on everything from bonding to machining it to molding it. The Society of Plastics Engineers (www.4spe.com) might be a good place to start.

[M.D. Holloway]

You may also want to talk to someone at UMass Lowell - they have a fantastics Plastic Engineering department and are always willing to answer questions.

[kach22i]

Thanks for the info, I have an interest in thermo forming too.

[JeremyD]

My HDPE questions:

1. Is this a cast material or only a sheet material? Mostly Sheet - but you can get some pretty thick sheets

2 Can it be machined - You bet - more dimensionally stable than wood.

3. How do you glue it, do you have to seal it or paint it? Paint it??? Hard to paint - paint does not like to stick to it. Use an epoxy base paint - rough up the exterior 200 grit sandpaper. I use 3M 5200 slow cure

4. Same density all the way through? Yes!

5. Ideal thickness? I personally like the 3/4" stuff. Solid enough to walk on - light enough to move around

6. Will it hold a screw? Till the end of time. Make sure you drill your pilot holes large enough - long screws tend to torque bind and you can break one off easily.

7. What does salt water do to it? Nothing - not a damn thing

9. If near an exhaust system will it melt or deform? yes - and the melt point on some varieties is pretty low

10. If you make a car bumper out of it will it shatter like glass on impact? Nope - it will be there well after the car rusts away.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

3. How do you glue it, do you have to seal it or paint it? Paint it??? Hard to paint - paint does not like to stick to it. Use an epoxy base paint - rough up the exterior 200 grit sandpaper. I use 3M 5200 slow cure

11. Can you buff and polish it to a glossy paint-like finish?

12. Will taking a grinder to it melt it and ruin the wheel/disk?

13. Will plastic body filler shaping tools be able to "work the material"?

[JeremyD]

11. Can you buff and polish it to a glossy paint-like finish?
Only with a high build epoxy primer. The tough part is making sure the primer attaches to it.

12. Will taking a grinder to it melt it and ruin the wheel/disk? Yes - you have to be careful when grinding, sanding - build up too much heat and you make plastic buggers on the surface. Better to shape using a planer - THEN sanding


13. Will plastic body filler shaping tools be able to "work the material"? Yep - but see above. You have to be careful not building up too much heat. also tough to feather a surface on it.

[kach22i]

http://www.apexenvirocare.com.au/services.html

Made from strips of welded HDPE this honeycomb structure provides three dimensional reinforcement and soil confinement.

[9dreizig]

Kachi,
You live near the thermoforming capitol of the US (Beaverton MI).. At least 3 thermoforming machine manufactures in that town.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

Kachi,
You live near the thermoforming capitol of the US (Beaverton MI).. At least 3 thermoforming machine manufactures in that town.

Really? Car bumpers and stuff? (headliners, bed liners, packaging etc....)

See lo9cation map links:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&fkt=1452&fsdt=7903&q=thermoforming+Beaverton+MI&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

I helped design the UBE building (in Ann Arbor) while with another firm, they do car bumpers.
http://www.ubemachinery.com/index.asp

I've toured the Plascore factory in Zeeland, Michigan. People are using the plastic honeycomb with fiberglass cloth on each side. Vacuum bagging and epoxy resin is not my thing though.

[9dreizig]

Yes, car bumpers and stuff.. Brown machine does that....there are two others in that town..