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10 facts about Cross-linked Polyethylene

  1. Cross-linked polyethylene has excellent low-temperature impact and environmental stress-crack resistance.
  2. It is a thermoset plastic.
  3. Cross-Linked polyethylene is not able to be welded.
  4. Cross-linked polyethylene does not have USDA or FDA compliance for the storage of processing edibles.
  5. XLPE is the abbreviation for cross-linked polyethylene.
  6. It is not recyclable like other polyethylene.
  7. A gel test is done to determine the amount of cross-linking. A gel test uses a solvent to determine the percentage of the cross-linked polyethylene of the tank. To meet ASTM requirements, a minimum gel percentage of 60% is required. Side note, Assmann XLPE tanks usually fall within the high 70% to low-80% range.
  8. XLPE can be used for holding sulfuric acid at concentrations from 80% to 95% as long as the tank can hold up to a 2.2 specific gravity and other temperature guidelines are followed.
  9. XLPE tanks will hold up better then HDPE or MDPE tanks for sodium hypochlorite.
  10. XLPE will withstand temperatures up to 150°F.
Title: 10 facts about Cross-linked Polyethylene
Description: Information you may not have known about XLPE.
Published: 1/10/2014
Last Edited: 2/27/2023

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