Chemical Resistance Guide for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Friday, July 13, 2018

This handy guide will help you determine what products will be shelf stable in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) packaging. Below you will find a table that describes the percentage loss per year on 42 different oils, food products, imitation flavors, and pure extracts. Permeability is the driving factor on knowing if your product is right for HDPE.

As you will see on the table, most oil-based products are not recommended for HDPE packaging.

Product	Permeability	Remarks
Oils	% loss/year
Boiled Linseed Oil	< 3
Linseed Oil	< 3
Castor Oil	< 3
Cedar Wood Oil	< 3	Considerable container distortion will occur.
Coconut Oil	< 3
Corn Oil	< 3
Cottonseed Oil	< 3	Considerable container distortion will occur.
Dill Oil	48	Not packageable.
Fir Balsam Oil	18	Not packageable - Considerable container distortion will occur.
Oil of Lemongrass	< 3
Oil of Sassafras	6	Not packageable - Considerable container distortion will occur.
Oil of Wintergreen	< 3
Olive Oil	< 3
Orange Oil	85	Not packageable.
Peanut Oil	< 3	Considerable container distortion will occur.
Peppermint Oil	< 3	Considerable container distortion will occur.
Pine Oil	4	Not packageable - Considerable container distortion will occur.
Rice Oil	< 3	Considerable container distortion will occur.
Safflower Oil	< 3
Sesame Oil	< 3	Product alteration may occur.
Food and Food Products	% loss/year
Vanilla Extract	3
Vinegar	3
Waffle Syrup	3
Imitation Flavors	% loss/year
Brandy	< 3
Butter	< 3
Coconut	< 3
Lemon	< 3
Mint	3
Pineapple	17	Not Packageable.
Rum	< 3
Strawberry	15	Not packageable.
Vanilla	< 3
Pure Extract	% loss/year
Almond	3.7	Not packageable.
Anise	< 3
Cinnamon	6.6	Not packageable.
Lemon	42	Not packageable.
Maple	< 3
Orange	36	Not Packageable.
Peppermint	< 3
Raspberry	< 3
Vanilla	< 3
Wintergreen	6.5	Not packageable.