Engineering PlasticsHDPESKU PEBLS2012
Blue PE500 Sheet (HMWPE) 10–25mm | Cut to Size, Food Safe
Price shown updates with the option you pick.
Blue PE500 (HMWPE) sheet, pressed and planed, cut to any size. PE500 is high molecular weight polyethylene: tougher and more wear resistant than standard HDPE (PE300), easier to machine and cheaper than PE1000, and supplied in the food-industry blue that makes any stray fragment easy to spot. Choose a stock panel below or price your exact dimensions instantly with the calculator.
From 200 × 50mm to 2000 × 1000mm. No quote request, no waiting.
The displayed price includes VAT and precision cutting.
10, 12, 15, 20 and 25mm, pressed and planed both faces.
Detectable by eye on the line. Suited to food handling and processing.
Custom Size? Instant Price & Order Online
Any size from 200 × 50mm up to 2000 × 1000mm, precision cut. Enter your dimensions:
Your exact cut dimensions are attached to the order line. Price includes VAT and precision cutting. Prefer to talk it through? Call +44 1282 277786 or request a quote.
Technical Specification
Typical values for pressed and planed PE500 (HMWPE) sheet. Figures are nominal and for guidance.
| Material | PE500, high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), approx. 500,000 g/mol |
| Colour / finish | Blue, pressed and planed both faces |
| Thicknesses | 10, 12, 15, 20, 25mm |
| Density | 0.96 g/cm³ |
| Yield stress | 27 MPa |
| Tensile modulus | 1,200 MPa |
| Elongation at break | >50% |
| Hardness | Shore D 65 |
| Service temperature | -100°C to +80°C continuous, +100°C short term |
| Melting point | 135°C |
| Heat deflection temperature | 79°C |
| Thermal expansion (CLTE) | 150–230 × 10⁻⁶ /K (allow roughly 2mm per metre per 10°C change) |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.4 W/(m·K) |
| Water absorption | <0.01% |
| Dielectric strength | 45 kV/mm |
| Flammability | UL94 HB (3mm and 6mm) |
| Food contact | Food-grade material, suitable for food handling and processing surfaces |
| Cut tolerance | ±1mm on cut dimensions |
Sheet Weight Guide
Handy for handling, fixings and freight planning. Based on 0.96 g/cm³.
| Thickness | Weight per m² | Full 2000 × 1000 sheet | 1000 × 500 panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mm | 9.6 kg | 19.2 kg | 4.8 kg |
| 12mm | 11.5 kg | 23.0 kg | 5.8 kg |
| 15mm | 14.4 kg | 28.8 kg | 7.2 kg |
| 20mm | 19.2 kg | 38.4 kg | 9.6 kg |
| 25mm | 24.0 kg | 48.0 kg | 12.0 kg |
Which Polyethylene Grade Do You Need?
| Grade | Wear resistance | Impact strength | Machinability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE300 (HDPE) | Good | Good | Excellent | Tanks, fabrications, general cladding, budget cutting boards |
| PE500 (HMWPE) – this product | Very good | Very high | Very good | Food-plant cutting boards, wear strips, guides, chute and hopper liners, machined parts |
| PE1000 (UHMWPE) | Outstanding | Outstanding | Good | Heavy abrasion, sliding bearings, high-speed conveyor wear parts |
Rule of thumb: if PE300 is wearing out too fast but PE1000 is more than the job needs, PE500 is the answer.
Key Features
- Very high impact strength: shrugs off knocks, drops and repeated loading without cracking, even in cold stores.
- Low moisture absorption: under 0.01% water uptake, so panels stay flat and stable in washdown and humid areas.
- Food-grade blue: visually detectable colour for HACCP-led food environments; ideal for cutting boards and contact surfaces.
- Chemical resistance: withstands detergents, sanitisers, dilute acids and alkalis used in cleaning regimes.
- Easy to machine: saws, routs, drills and mills cleanly; welds with PE rod for fabricated assemblies.
- Low friction, self-lubricating: product slides freely on chute liners, guides and wear strips.
- Lightweight: roughly one-eighth the weight of steel for the same volume, easing installation and reducing loads.
Applications
- Food processing: cutting and chopping boards, butchery blocks, filler tables, contact surfaces on production lines.
- Wear strips and guides: conveyor side guides, chain guides, slide plates and rub rails.
- Liners: chute, hopper, bunker and silo linings that stop bridging and cut wear on steel.
- Conveyor components: star wheels, transfer plates, dead plates and change parts.
- Tank and vessel fabrication: water treatment, chemical handling and bottling plant.
- General engineering: bushes, spacers, packers, jigs and machined components.
Machining and Fitting Tips
- Cutting: use sharp, coarse-tooth blades and moderate feed to avoid melting. Allow a 5mm saw kerf when cutting your own panels.
- Drilling: standard HSS bits work well; clear swarf often and avoid excess heat.
- Fixing: use slotted or oversized holes and washers. PE500 moves with temperature, so allow about 2mm per metre for every 10°C swing.
- Joining: polyethylene does not bond with normal adhesives. Use mechanical fixings or hot-gas weld with PE rod.
- Outdoors: standard blue PE500 is not UV stabilised. For permanent outdoor exposure, ask us about a UV-stable grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sizes are available?
Pre-cut panels run from 250 × 250mm up to a full 2000 × 1000mm sheet in 10, 12, 15, 20 and 25mm. Any custom size from 200 × 50mm to 2000 × 1000mm is priced instantly with the calculator above and cut to order.
What does "pressed and planed" mean?
The sheet is compression moulded (pressed) for a dense, stress-free structure, then planed on both faces to a flat, uniform thickness. It is the preferred format for machined parts and cutting boards because it stays flat.
Is PE500 food safe?
Yes. Blue PE500 is a food-grade material widely used for cutting boards and contact surfaces in food processing. The blue colour is chosen because it does not occur naturally in food, so chips or fragments are easy to spot.
What is the difference between PE300, PE500 and PE1000?
The numbers track molecular weight. PE300 (HDPE) is the general-purpose grade, PE500 (HMWPE) adds much better impact and wear resistance while staying easy to machine, and PE1000 (UHMWPE) is the extreme wear grade. See the comparison table above.
How does it perform in wet or washdown environments?
Very well. Water absorption is below 0.01%, so it does not swell, warp or harbour moisture, and it tolerates the detergents and sanitisers used in cleaning regimes.
Can it withstand chemicals?
Yes. PE500 resists most detergents, cleaning agents, dilute acids and alkalis, alcohols and many solvents. Contact us if you have a specific chemical exposure to check.
What temperatures can it handle?
Continuous service from -100°C to +80°C, with short excursions to around 100°C. It stays tough in freezers and cold stores where many plastics become brittle.
Is it easy to machine?
Yes. PE500 saws, routs, drills, mills and turns cleanly with standard woodworking or metalworking tools. Keep tools sharp and speeds moderate to avoid heat build-up.
Can it be glued or welded?
Polyethylene resists adhesives, so glue is not recommended. Use mechanical fixings, or hot-gas or extrusion weld with PE500 welding rod for fabricated tanks and assemblies.
How accurate is the cutting?
Cut dimensions are held to ±1mm. If you need machined edges or tighter tolerances, call us before ordering.
Can it be used outdoors?
Standard blue PE500 is not UV stabilised, so it is best suited to indoor, covered or short-term outdoor use. Ask us about UV-stable options for permanent exterior applications.
How is it delivered?
Every panel is cut to order and shipped free of charge to UK mainland addresses. Larger sheets travel on a pallet; smaller panels go by parcel carrier. Need it faster or to a non-mainland address? Call +44 1282 277786.
What if I need more than one size or a drawing made?
Add each size to your basket separately from the calculator, or send us a drawing for routed profiles, holes and chamfers.
Product details
| SKU | PEBLS2012 |
|---|---|
| Material | HDPE |
| Form | Sheet |
Same material, other forms
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Fast, no-obligation price from our UK team for:Blue PE500 Sheet (HMWPE) 10–25mm | Cut to Size, Food Safe