Advantages

  • Low specific gravity
  • Chemical resistance
  • Impact strength

Limitations

  • Very low strength/stiffness
  • Poor heat resistance
  • High coefficient of thermal expansion

Overview

Low density polyethylene has good chemical resistance and electrical properties, but it has a high thermal expansion and tends to fail under mechanical and thermal stress.

Glass reinforcement improves its thermal expansion, strength, rigidity and temperature resistance. As with most other polymer systems, the increase in flexural modulus is related to the glass fiber content.

Tensile strength is increased with glass reinforcement, as is flexural strength.