Hostalen

Hostalen HDPE is a high-density polyethylene family for blow-moulded industrial packaging, beverage and pharmaceutical closures, hot-water pressure pipe, and HDPE tape, raffia and monofilament. Genesis Polymers distributes fourteen Hostalen HDPE grades across these conversion technologies. The brand has been produced in Europe since the 1950s; the multimodal Advanced Cascade Process that defines the modern Hostalen range was commercialised by Hoechst in 1975.

The Advanced Cascade Process combines a low-molecular-weight fraction (for processability) with a high-molecular-weight fraction carrying dense tie-molecules between crystalline lamellae. That architecture gives Hostalen HDPE both the stiffness needed for thin-wall closures and the environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) needed for dangerous-goods containers and pressure pipe.

Across the Hostalen HDPE range, densities run from 0.946 g/cm³ on tape grades with narrow MWD up to 0.960 g/cm³ on high-stiffness injection grades. MFR spans below 1 g/10 min for heavy-duty extrusion blow moulding up to 8 g/10 min for high-speed injection.

Where Hostalen HDPE is used

Hostalen HDPE supports the full range of HDPE conversion technologies:

• Industrial and dangerous-goods packaging: extrusion blow-moulded jerry cans, drums up to 60 L, UN-approved containers

• Caps and closures: beverage caps for carbonated soft drinks, sparkling water and mineral water; pharmaceutical closures; collapsible tube shoulders

• Thin-wall consumer packaging: housewares, toys, technical injection mouldings

• Pressure pipe: PE-RT Type II hot-water systems, underfloor heating, plumbing, multilayer composite pipes

• Tape, raffia, netting and monofilaments: agricultural netting, round-bale nets, protective netting, geotextile fabrics, ropes and yarns

Hostalen HDPE technical profile

ESCR is the brand's defining technical advantage. The Advanced Cascade Process produces a very broad molecular weight distribution, so Hostalen HDPE grades resist crack initiation under stress far better than narrow-MWD HDPE. That matters for chemical containers, fuel jerry cans and pressure pipe. Hostalen 4731B is rated under ISO 9080 for 50-year service life at 70 °C, eliminating the crosslinking step required by PE-X and exceeding minimum PE-RT Type II design stress values by 10–23%.

UV-stabilised variants (ACP 6541A UV) and antioxidant-stabilised tape grades (ACP 7740 F2) are available for outdoor and process-stable applications.

The Hostalen HDPE grade range

Blow-moulded industrial packaging, for extrusion blow moulding of jerry cans, drums and industrial containers:

• Hostalen ACP 5331 A: mid-viscosity grade for jerry cans and drums

• Hostalen ACP 5531 B: tensile modulus 1250 MPa, tensile impact 90 kJ/m², density 0.954 g/cm³. Dangerous-goods packaging; supports lightweighting

• Hostalen ACP 5831 D: low-MFR (~0.35 g/10 min) for heavy-duty blow-moulded containers

• Hostalen ACP 6031D: tensile modulus 1420 MPa, density 0.960 g/cm³. Extrusion and injection blow moulding for thin-wall rigid packaging

Beverage and pharmaceutical closures, collapsible tubes, thin-wall injection:

• Hostalen ACP 5331H: intermediate-flow grade for caps, closures and collapsible tubes

• Hostalen ACP 6541A: MFR 1.45 g/10 min, density 0.954 g/cm³, 11 kJ/m² Charpy notched impact. Single-piece beverage closures for carbonated soft drinks, mineral water and sparkling water

• Hostalen ACP 6541A UV: UV-stabilised variant for closures exposed to sunlight during storage or transit

• Hostalen GC 7260: MFR 8.0 g/10 min. High-flow injection grade for closures, housewares and technical mouldings

HDPE tape, raffia and netting, for drawn tape extrusion lines used in agricultural, geotextile and protective nets:

• Hostalen ACP 7740 F1: tape grade with narrow MWD and lubricant, density 0.948 g/cm³

• Hostalen ACP 7740 F2: antioxidant-stabilised variant for process-stable tape production

• Hostalen ACP 7740 F3: tailored narrow MWD, density 0.946 g/cm³, high tensile strength, low fibrillation

HDPE monofilaments for ropes, yarns and geotextiles:

• Hostalen GF 7750 M2: density 0.957 g/cm³, MFR 1.0 g/10 min. Monofilament for ropes, yarns and netting

• Hostalen GF 7750 M3: density 0.957 g/cm³, MFR 0.6 g/10 min. Higher-tenacity monofilament

PE-RT Type II pressure pipe:

• Hostalen 4731B: tensile modulus 850 MPa, Charpy impact 24 kJ/m², density 0.947 g/cm³, MFR 0.45 g/10 min (5 kg). Underfloor heating, plumbing, multilayer composite pipes

Choosing the right Hostalen HDPE grade

Frequently asked questions about Hostalen HDPE

What is Hostalen HDPE used for? Hostalen HDPE is used in extrusion blow-moulded jerry cans and drums, beverage and pharmaceutical closures, thin-wall injection moulding, PE-RT Type II hot-water pressure pipe, and HDPE tape, raffia and monofilament for agricultural and geotextile nets.

Which Hostalen HDPE grade is used for hot-water pipe?Hostalen 4731B is the PE-RT Type II grade. It is rated under ISO 9080 for 50-year service life at 70 °C, with tensile modulus 850 MPa, Charpy impact 24 kJ/m² and density 0.947 g/cm³. It eliminates the crosslinking step required by PE-X.

What is the Advanced Cascade Process? The Advanced Cascade Process is the multimodal polymerisation technology that produces modern Hostalen HDPE. It combines a low-molecular-weight fraction for processability with a high-molecular-weight fraction carrying dense tie-molecules between crystalline lamellae. The result:

• Broad molecular weight distribution

• High environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR)

• Decoupled stiffness and toughness, so one grade can deliver both properties

Which Hostalen HDPE grade for beverage closures?Hostalen ACP 6541A is the reference grade for single-piece beverage closures on carbonated soft drinks, mineral water and sparkling water. For closures exposed to sunlight, use the UV-stabilised ACP 6541A UV variant.

What is the difference between Hostalen GF 7750 M2 and M3? Both are HDPE monofilament grades at density 0.957 g/cm³. M2 runs at MFR 1.0 g/10 min for ropes, yarns and netting. M3 runs at lower MFR 0.6 g/10 min for higher-tenacity monofilament applications.

Is Hostalen HDPE food-contact compliant? Food-contact documentation for Hostalen HDPE grades is available through the producer on request. Several ACP-series grades are used in beverage closures and food-contact collapsible tube shoulders.

Sister polyolefin brands from Genesis Polymers

For extreme low-temperature L-ring drums under UN dangerous-goods certification, see Histif, purpose-built for sub-zero drop performance. For LDPE blown or cast film, see Lupolen. For healthcare-grade HDPE closures and pharmaceutical packaging, see Purell.