Plastic Container Properties by Recycle Codes

PET - polyethylene terephthalate
PETE

HDPE - high density PE
HDPE


V

LDPE - low density PE
LDPE

PP - polypropylene
PP

PS - polystyrene
PS

Transparency

Clear

Translucent

Translucent

Translucent

Translucent

Clear

Max Useable Temp

140 F

248 F

158 F

176 F

275 F

158 F

Brittleness Temp

14 F

-148 F

-22 F

-148 F

32 F

71.6 F

Moisture Barrier

Good

Excellent

Fair

Good

Excellent

Fair

Sunlight
Barrier

Good

Fair

Fair

Fair

Fair

Fair

Oxygen Barrier

Good

Poor

Good

Poor

Poor

Fair

Tensile Strength, PSI

8000

4000

5000

2000

5000

6000

Flexibility

Semi

Semi

Rigid

Flexible

Rigid

Rigid

Resistance to Impact

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Good

Fair

Invented

by J. R. Whinfield and J. T. Dickson, 1940.

by Robert L. Banks and J. Paul Hogan, 1951.

by Waldo Semon, 1926.

by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson, 1935.

by Robert L. Banks and J. Paul Hogan, 1951.

by Eduard Simon, 1839.