Comparison

MDPE Pipe Grade vs ABS

A side-by-side comparison of Medium-Density Polyethylene Pipe Grade and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.

Property

MDPE Pipe Grade

ABS

Physical

Density

0.930-0.940 g/cm³

1.04 – 1.07 g/cm³

Water Absorption (24h)

<0.05 %

0.20 – 0.45 %

Transparency

Opaque

Shrinkage

2-4 %

0.4 – 0.9 %

Specific Gravity

—

1.05

Surface Finish

—

Matte to glossy

Mechanical

Young's Modulus

0.4-0.7 GPa

1.8 – 2.5 GPa

Tensile Strength

15-25 MPa

40 – 50 MPa

Elongation at Break

150-400 %

10 – 50 %

Impact Strength (Izod)

No Break

200 – 400 J/m

Flexural Strength

—

60 – 80 MPa

Hardness (Rockwell R)

—

100 – 115

Thermal

Glass Transition Temperature

-120 °C

105 °C

Melting Point

118-128 °C

Amorphous (no true Tm)

Continuous Service Temperature

70-80 °C

70 – 90 °C

Heat Deflection Temperature

45-55 °C

85 – 100 °C

Thermal Conductivity

—

0.17 W/m·K

CTE

—

80 – 100 × 10⁻⁶ /K

Electrical

Dielectric Constant

2.25-2.35

2.7 – 3.2

Volume Resistivity

>10¹⁵ Ω⋅cm

10¹⁶ Ω·cm

Dielectric Strength

15-25 kV/mm

15 – 20 kV/mm

Surface Resistivity

—

10¹⁵ Ω

Chemical resistance

Acids

Excellent resistance

—

Bases

Excellent resistance

Good

Solvents

Good resistance at room temperature, swells in hot aromatic hydrocarbons

—

UV Resistance

Poor (requires stabilization)

Poor (unless stabilized)

Acids (dilute)

—

Good

Alcohols

—

Good

Oils & Greases

—

Fair

Gasoline

—

Poor

Acetone

—

Attacks / dissolves

Weathering

—

Poor without stabilizers

Sustainability

Recyclability

Recyclable

Recyclable (mechanical)

Recycling Code

2 (PE-HD)

7 (Other)

Carbon Footprint

Moderate

~3.1 kg CO₂e / kg

Bio-based Content

—

0 %