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by NavinF 659 days ago
UHMW = ultra high molecular weight. Each molecule is literally heavy because they have a lot of atoms.

PE = polyethylene. The most popular plastic on this planet.

HDPE = high-density polyethylene. One of the most common plastics. Milk jugs, glue bottles, etc.

Stick some UHMW tape on anything that needs to slide easier. Its surface is quite slippery

1 comments

HDPE is also what Nalgenes and the like are made of (or used to be anyway), and is very popular for storing chemicals as well. It is very nearly completely inert.
you cunninghammed me: nalgenes are polycarbonate, which is a lot less inert

all the polyethylenes are relatively inert, because polyethylenes are in some sense just heavy paraffins. paraffin is germanized latin for 'relatively inert'

And you have Cunninghammed me :-)

Some Nalgene's are polycarbonate, like those commonly drunk from. But not all, some are HDPE[0,1,2].

Some are Polypropylene co-polymer[3] but those are more for specialist things I guess.

[0] https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ultralite-1-litre-wide-m... [1] https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/nalgene-hdpe-125ml-wide-mo... [2] https://www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk/camping-trekking-c4/... [3] https://www.thelabwarehouse.com/products/bottle-nalgene-ppco...

oh, thanks! i only knew the pc ones
The clear Nalgenes are polycarbonate, but the opaque ones (sold as "Ultralite Bottle" on their website) are made of HDPE