Overview
Polyethylene at a Glance
Polyethylene (PE) is the highest-volume commodity thermoplastic worldwide. Chain branching separates three families: HDPE — linear chains (≥0.940 g/cm³); LLDPE — linear with short-chain α-olefin branches (0.915–0.925 g/cm³); LDPE — both short- and long-chain branches from high-pressure polymerisation (0.910–0.925 g/cm³). Syntex America supplies eleven grades — four HDPE (5502BM, E924, H5604F, HF49007), six LLDPE (2645G, DOWLEX2645, FP120-A, HJ016364, L1221FA, LF9120CC), and one LDPE (G03-5) — from Petkim, Formosa Plastics, SCG Chemicals (SCGC™), Chevron Phillips Chemical, Dow, NOVA Chemicals, INEOS Olefins & Polymers, and Westlake Chemical. Each grade ships with a technical datasheet, Brazilian NCM codes (3901.10.30 / 3901.10.20 / 3901.20.29), ASTM D4976 classification, and FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 food-contact documentation where the producer publishes it.
Polyethylene serves film and packaging, blow-moulded containers, pipe and conduit, wire and cable, agricultural and industrial sheeting, and consumer goods. Branching rises HDPE → LLDPE → LDPE: crystallinity, density, and stiffness fall; clarity, sealability, and flexibility rise. LLDPE bucks the pattern on toughness — its linear backbone with short α-olefin branches gives the highest puncture, tear, and dart-impact resistance of the three families. The catalogue spans 0.918 g/cm³ (LLDPE) to 0.954 g/cm³ (HDPE); each grade is specified by ASTM D1238 (MFI) and ASTM D1505 (density).
PE resists most acids, bases, and polar solvents at room temperature; HDPE has the lowest water-vapour transmission rate of any commodity thermoplastic — why it dominates moisture-barrier packaging, industrial chemical drums, and underground pipe. HDPE (Code 2) and LDPE / LLDPE (Code 4) are mechanically recyclable through established curbside and industrial recovery, feeding rHDPE and rLDPE supply for U.S. Plastics Pact and EU Plastics Strategy recycled-content targets.
Grade Catalog
HDPE — High-Density Polyethylene
Rigid, strong, and durable.
- Bottles
- Jerricans
- Industrial containers
- Grocery bags
- FFS packaging
- Pipes
The four HDPE grades supplied by Syntex America are linear polyethylenes with density ≥0.940 g/cm³, classified under ASTM D4976 and carrying Resin Identification Code 2 under ASTM D7611. The family covers low-MFI blow moulding (5502BM at 0.35 g/10 min) and high-output blown- and cast-film extrusion (E924, H5604F, HF49007, all at 0.04–0.06 g/10 min at 190 °C / 2.16 kg) from manufacturers in Turkey, the United States, and Vietnam. NCM tariff classification for the HDPE family is 3901.20.29.
| Grade | Producer | MFI (g/10 min) | Density (g/cm³) | Application | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5502BM | Petkim Petrokimya Holding | 0.35 g/10 min @ 230 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.954 g/cm³ | Blow moulding — HDPE bottles, jerricans, and industrial containers | |
| E924 | Formosa Plastics Corporation U.S.A. | 0.04 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.949 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — heavy-duty bags, shrink film, FFS packaging | |
| H5604F | SCGC™ | 0.04 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.954 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — high-strength HDPE film, T-shirt and grocery bags | |
| HF49007 | Chevron Phillips Chemical | 0.06 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.950 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — high-clarity HDPE film, FFS bags, lamination |
ASTM test methods cited per the producer technical datasheets. NCM tariff classification 3901.20.29 applies to the entire HDPE family in this section.
LLDPE — Linear Low-Density Polyethylene
High toughness and puncture resistance.
- Stretch film
- FFS bags
- Heavy-duty sacks
- Frozen-food packaging
- Lamination
- Squeeze bottles
The six LLDPE grades supplied by Syntex America are linear polyethylenes with controlled short-chain branching from α-olefin comonomers (butene, hexene, octene), density 0.918–0.922 g/cm³, classified under ASTM D4976 and carrying Resin Identification Code 4 under ASTM D7611. Five film-extrusion grades — Dow 2645G, Dow DOWLEX2645, NOVA FP120-A, SCGC™ L1221FA, and Westlake LF9120CC — span MFI 0.85 to 1.1 g/10 min, while INEOS HJ016364 (MFI 2.0 g/10 min) is a blow-moulding grade. NCM tariff classification is 3901.10.30 for the film grades and 3901.10.20 for the HJ016364 blow grade.
| Grade | Producer | MFI (g/10 min) | Density (g/cm³) | Application | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2645G | Dow | 0.9 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.919 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — heavy-duty bags, stretch film, lamination | |
| DOWLEX2645 | Dow | 0.85 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.918 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — collation shrink, lamination, multi-layer film | |
| FP120-A | NOVA Chemicals | 1.0 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.920 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — heavy-duty shipping sacks, FFS, industrial liners | |
| HJ016364 | INEOS Olefins & Polymers | 2.0 g/10 min @ 230 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.918 g/cm³ | Blow moulding — small and medium HDPE-style containers and bottles | Quote this gradeDownload TDS |
| L1221FA | SCGC™ | 1.0 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.918 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — stretch film, FFS bags, general-purpose film | |
| LF9120CC | Westlake Chemical Corporation | 1.1 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg | 0.922 g/cm³ | Blown film extrusion — high-clarity film, frozen-food packaging, lamination |
ASTM test methods cited per the producer technical datasheets. NCM tariff classification is 3901.10.30 for the five film grades and 3901.10.20 for the HJ016364 blow grade.
LDPE — Low-Density Polyethylene
Flexible, transparent, and easy to process.
- Blown film
- Heavy-duty bags
- Lamination
- LLDPE blend stock
The LDPE family is produced by high-pressure polymerisation, yielding highly branched chains with low density (typically 0.910–0.925 g/cm³), excellent clarity, and the best seal performance in the PE family. Syntex America supplies one LDPE grade — Petkim G03-5 — classified under ASTM D4976 and carrying Resin Identification Code 4 under ASTM D7611. LDPE is most often blended with LLDPE to balance bubble stability, clarity, and stretch in blown-film converters.
Grade
G03-5
Petkim Petrokimya Holding
- MFI (g/10 min)
- 0.30 g/10 min @ 190 °C / 2.16 kg
- Density (g/cm³)
- 0.920 g/cm³
- Application
- Blown film extrusion — general-purpose film, heavy-duty bags, lamination substrates
G03-5 is a low-flow LDPE film-extrusion grade (SKU LDPE.FILM.G03-5) from Petkim Petrokimya Holding in Aliağa, Turkey — the integrated petrochemical complex of the SOCAR group. Targeted at blown-film extrusion of general-purpose films, heavy-duty bags, and lamination substrates, and commonly blended with LLDPE grades (such as L1221FA or 2645G) to balance bubble stability, clarity, and seal performance.
Petkim's G03-5 is the LDPE workhorse for the Mediterranean and Black Sea converter base, and is supplied by Syntex America under freight programmes routed through the US Gulf and Brazilian ports.
HDPE vs LLDPE vs LDPE — At a Glance
| Property | HDPE | LLDPE | LDPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branching / chain structure | Linear, minimal branching | Linear with controlled short-chain branching (α-olefin comonomer) | Highly branched (long- and short-chain branches) from high-pressure polymerisation |
| Density range | ≥0.940 g/cm³ (Syntex grades 0.949–0.954) | 0.915–0.925 g/cm³ (Syntex grades 0.918–0.922) | ~0.910–0.925 g/cm³ (G03-5 at 0.920) |
| Tensile strength / stiffness | Highest in the PE family — rigid, high crystallinity | Moderate — superior puncture and tear vs LDPE at similar density | Lowest tensile, softest, most flexible |
| Optical clarity | Opaque to translucent | Translucent — improved clarity with metallocene grades | Best clarity in the family at the same gauge |
| MFI offered by Syntex (ASTM D1238) | 0.04–0.35 g/10 min (blow & film grades) | 0.85–2.0 g/10 min (film & blow grades) | 0.30 g/10 min (film grade G03-5) |
| Typical processing | Blow moulding (5502BM); blown & cast film (E924, H5604F, HF49007) | Blown & cast film extrusion (2645G, DOWLEX2645, FP120-A, L1221FA, LF9120CC); blow moulding (HJ016364) | Blown & cast film extrusion (G03-5), typically blended with LLDPE |
| Resin Identification Code (ASTM D7611) | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Brazilian NCM | 3901.20.29 | 3901.10.30 (film) / 3901.10.20 (blow) | 3901.10.30 |
How to choose between HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE — across the 11 PE grades supplied by Syntex America
A four-step decision framework for selecting the right polyethylene grade among the four HDPE, six LLDPE, and one LDPE SKUs in Syntex America's catalogue.
- Step 1
Identify the processing method — film vs blow moulding
Start with how the part will be made. For extrusion blow moulding of bottles, jerricans, and rigid containers, select 5502BM (HDPE, Petkim) or HJ016364 (LLDPE, INEOS). For blown- or cast-film extrusion of bags, sacks, stretch wrap, lamination, or shrink film, choose from the nine film grades: E924, H5604F, HF49007 (HDPE) — or 2645G, DOWLEX2645, FP120-A, L1221FA, LF9120CC, G03-5 (LLDPE / LDPE).
- Step 2
Match density to stiffness and clarity requirements
Move along the density ladder according to the part's stiffness, clarity, and stretch profile. Specify HDPE (≥0.940 g/cm³) for rigid blow-moulded containers, heavy-duty films, and high-stiffness bags. Specify LLDPE (0.915–0.925 g/cm³ industry range; 0.918–0.922 g/cm³ across the Syntex grades) when you need balanced stretch, puncture, and seal strength — for stretch wrap, FFS bags, lamination, and most flexible packaging. Specify LDPE (G03-5 at 0.920 g/cm³) when clarity, seal performance, and bubble stability are critical — typically as a 10–30% blend with LLDPE.
- Step 3
Match MFI to part geometry and line output
Low MFI (HDPE film grades E924, H5604F, HF49007 at 0.04–0.06 g/10 min) supports thick-gauge film and stiff, heavy-duty bags with high melt strength. Mid-low MFI (5502BM at 0.35, G03-5 at 0.30) targets blow moulding and general LDPE film. Mid MFI (LLDPE film grades at 0.85–1.1 g/10 min) covers most blown- and cast-film production. High MFI (HJ016364 at 2.0 g/10 min) targets fast-cycle blow moulding of small and medium containers. Lower MFI = higher molecular weight = thicker walls and stronger melt; higher MFI = faster flow and thinner gauges.
- Step 4
Confirm food-contact compliance per grade
All eight manufacturers publish FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 compliance on their grade product cards. The six US-based producers (Dow, NOVA, INEOS, Chevron Phillips, Formosa, Westlake) also publish EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, RoHS 2, and REACH statements. For any food-contact, pharmaceutical, or consumer-packaging application, request the written compliance packet from Syntex America before specifying — the producer Statement of Compliance (SoC) is supplied per production lot at order.
Specifications
| Material Classification | ASTM D4976 (PE Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials) |
|---|---|
| Test Methods | ASTM D1238 (MFI), ASTM D1505 (density), ASTM D638 (tensile), ASTM D790 (flexural modulus) |
| Resin Identification Code | 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LLDPE / LDPE), ASTM D7611 |
| Food-Contact Compliance | FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (all 11 grades) and EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 (US producers) — written Statement of Compliance supplied per production lot at order |
| NCM Tariff Classification | 3901.20.29 (HDPE); 3901.10.30 (LDPE & LLDPE film); 3901.10.20 (LLDPE blow grade HJ016364) |
Industry Standards & Food-Contact Compliance
Every PE grade in the catalogue is specified against ASTM D4976 (PE Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials) and carries a Resin Identification Code under ASTM D7611 — Code 2 for HDPE, Code 4 for LLDPE and LDPE. Producer datasheets cite ASTM D1238 (MFI), ASTM D1505 (density), ASTM D638 (tensile), and ASTM D790 (flexural modulus) where reported.
Food-contact compliance is documented at the producer level: Dow, NOVA Chemicals, INEOS, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Formosa, and Westlake publish FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 and EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on their grade cards; Petkim publishes FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for 5502BM and G03-5; SCGC™ publishes FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for H5604F and L1221FA. Syntex America delivers the written Statement of Compliance (SoC) for the production lot at order — covering FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, EU 10/2011, RoHS 2 (Directive 2011/65/EU), REACH (EC 1907/2006), and Packaging Directive 94/62/EC on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
All three are polyethylenes — chains of ethylene monomer — but they differ in how the chains are branched, which in turn defines density, stiffness, and clarity. HDPE (high-density polyethylene, ≥0.940 g/cm³) has linear chains with minimal branching, giving the highest stiffness, tensile strength, and crystallinity. LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene, 0.915–0.925 g/cm³) has linear chains with controlled short-chain branching from α-olefin comonomers, delivering excellent puncture, tear, and seal performance. LDPE (low-density polyethylene, ~0.910–0.925 g/cm³) is produced by high-pressure polymerisation and has highly branched chains, giving the best clarity and seal strength at the cost of stiffness. Syntex America supplies eleven grades across all three families.
Match the film application to the right grade. For heavy-duty HDPE film (T-shirt bags, grocery bags, FFS packaging requiring stiff down-gauging), specify Formosa E924, SCGC™ H5604F, or Chevron Phillips HF49007 — all at MFI 0.04–0.06 g/10 min at 190 °C / 2.16 kg. For general-purpose LLDPE film, stretch wrap, or lamination, specify Dow 2645G, Dow DOWLEX2645, NOVA FP120-A, SCGC™ L1221FA, or Westlake LF9120CC — all at MFI 0.85–1.1 g/10 min. For LDPE blend stock to improve bubble stability and clarity, specify Petkim G03-5 at MFI 0.30 g/10 min.
Syntex America supplies two PE blow-moulding grades. For rigid HDPE bottles, jerricans, and industrial containers, specify Petkim 5502BM at MFI 0.35 g/10 min @ 230 °C / 2.16 kg and density 0.954 g/cm³ — the workhorse HDPE blow-grade in the catalogue. For more flexible LLDPE-style blow moulding of squeeze bottles, small flexible packaging, and parts requiring stress-crack resistance, specify INEOS HJ016364 at MFI 2.0 g/10 min @ 230 °C / 2.16 kg and density 0.918 g/cm³. The two grades cover most extrusion-blow processing windows.
All eight manufacturers in Syntex America's PE catalogue — Petkim, Formosa, SCGC™, Chevron Phillips, Dow, NOVA, INEOS, and Westlake — publish FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 compliance on the relevant grade product cards. The major US-based producers (Dow, NOVA, INEOS, Chevron Phillips, Westlake, Formosa) also publish EU Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, RoHS 2, and REACH compliance statements. For any specific lot intended for food-contact, pharmaceutical, or consumer-packaging use, request the producer Statement of Compliance (SoC) packet from Syntex America at order — it is supplied per production lot.
The Resin Identification Code, defined by ASTM D7611, is the recycling triangle marked with a number that indicates the polymer family. HDPE carries Code 2 ("PE-HD") and feeds the rigid-bottle reclaim stream into recycled HDPE (rHDPE). LDPE and LLDPE both carry Code 4 ("PE-LD") and feed the flexible-film reclaim stream into recycled LDPE (rLDPE). All eleven PE grades supplied by Syntex America are marked with one of these two codes and are mechanically recyclable through curbside and industrial reclaim systems.
At similar density, LLDPE delivers significantly better puncture, tear, and dart-impact resistance than LDPE because its short-chain branches sit on linear chains, preserving tie-molecule density between crystalline lamellae. LDPE has the better clarity, gloss, and seal performance because its long-chain branches widen the molecular-weight distribution and improve melt elasticity. Most blown-film converters blend the two — typically 70–90% LLDPE with 10–30% LDPE — to balance bubble stability and seal strength. Syntex America supplies five LLDPE film grades (2645G, DOWLEX2645, FP120-A, L1221FA, LF9120CC) and one LDPE film grade (G03-5) to support this blending.
Polyethylene retains ductility at very low temperatures — significantly better than polypropylene homopolymer. HDPE remains ductile down to roughly –40 °C in most applications, while LLDPE and LDPE remain flexible and tough down to –50 °C or below thanks to their lower crystallinity. This makes PE the default choice for cold-service applications such as frozen-food packaging, freezer bags, low-temperature pipe, and outdoor agricultural film in cold climates. The dart-impact and puncture resistance of LLDPE grades like Dow 2645G and NOVA FP120-A is especially valuable for frozen-food and refrigerated-transport bags.
Lead times for polyethylene depend on origin, destination port, and current inventory at Syntex America's Miami logistics hub. Petkim and Formosa grades typically ship faster to East-Coast and Gulf-Coast US ports; Long Son grades route via Vietnam–Singapore consolidations to Brazilian and Mexican Pacific ports; Dow, NOVA, INEOS, Chevron Phillips, and Westlake grades source from North American production. MOQ is structured by container — typically a full container load for new accounts, with split-volume and consolidated freight available for repeat customers under a structured supply contract. Submit a quote request with destination port, target volume, and grade to receive a written lead-time and MOQ commitment within 24 hours.
Multi-origin sourcing is a deliberate risk-management strategy. The eight manufacturers in the catalogue — Petkim Petrokimya Holding (Turkey), Formosa Plastics Corporation U.S.A. (Texas), SCG Chemicals (SCGC™, Vietnam + Thailand), Chevron Phillips Chemical (Texas), Dow (Michigan), NOVA Chemicals (Canada), INEOS Olefins & Polymers, and Westlake Chemical Corporation (Texas) — span four supply regions: North America, Latin America gateway, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. Buyers exposed to single-region supply disruption (force-majeure cracker outages, regional tariff shifts, shipping-lane disruption) can diversify origin without re-qualifying a new SKU.
Three Brazilian NCM codes cover Syntex America's PE catalogue. HDPE — all four grades, 5502BM, E924, H5604F, and HF49007 — is classified under NCM 3901.20.29. LDPE film grade G03-5 and the five LLDPE film grades (2645G, DOWLEX2645, FP120-A, L1221FA, LF9120CC) are classified under NCM 3901.10.30 (the film-grade LDPE/LLDPE classification). The LLDPE blow grade HJ016364 is classified under NCM 3901.10.20 (the blow-grade LDPE/LLDPE classification). All three NCM codes are part of Chapter 39 ("Plastics and articles thereof").
Yes — all eleven PE grades are mechanically recyclable. HDPE grades feed the Code 2 stream into recycled HDPE (rHDPE) — a well-established market with curbside and industrial reclaim infrastructure across North America, Europe, and Brazil. LDPE and LLDPE grades feed the Code 4 stream into recycled LDPE (rLDPE), with growing recovery capacity driven by U.S. Plastics Pact and EU Plastics Strategy targets. Buyers seeking certified recycled-content PE — including ISCC PLUS mass-balance, REDcert, or producer-specific PCR streams — should request a sourcing brief from Syntex America; several of the producers in the catalogue (Dow, NOVA, INEOS, Westlake) operate dedicated recycled-content product lines.
Syntex America supplies all eleven polyethylene grades — Petkim 5502BM and G03-5, Formosa E924, SCGC™ H5604F and L1221FA, Chevron Phillips HF49007, Dow 2645G and DOWLEX2645, NOVA FP120-A, INEOS HJ016364, and Westlake LF9120CC — to converters, packaging OEMs, and industrial processors across North, Central, and South America. Datasheets, NCM tariff classification, producer Statements of Compliance, MOQ, and freight quotes are returned within 24 hours of an inquiry through the form on this page.
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