We engineer them to resist dents, rust and various types of wear and tear. If you care about your vehicle and seek practicality, this modern protection is for you.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE for short) is a thermoplastic polymer derived from petroleum with a generalized chemical formula (C2H4)n. The HDPE formula represents the repeating monomer unit of ethylene and forms a poly-ethylene molecular chain.
This linear structure allows HDPE to fit together more closely and contributes to its’ impressive strength.
Legacy Innovations works alongside its clients from the initial design through finalization to provide a marine platform ready to go to work. We thrive on small transport/work platforms equipped with electric bow doors, hydraulic cranes, outboard engines, and any other details necessary for specific operation.
The highly elastic and high toughness properties of HDPE allow impacts and sudden intense loads to be taken and absorbed into the vessel without permanent deformation. With a 700% elongation at failure, HDPE will “spring” back to its original shape. With this highly elastic nature of HDPE, a vessel could almost be folded in half before the hull bottom sheets would fracture!
Percent Elongation at Fracture (HDPE & Aluminum)
High density polyethylene provides excellent resistance against acid, bases, alcohols, salts and much more with little or no effect. PE100 grade HDPE used in Legacy Innovation’s vessels has been compounded with carbon black stabilizer (ASTM D3350) to be resistant to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
HDPE is a thermoplastic and is 100% recyclable, meaning the marine vessel can be cleaned, granulated, and reprocessed into new sheet stock.
Above are the static surface friction coefficients between HDPE and aluminum against a common solid material. It takes approximately 1/3 the force to slide an object on HDPE vs. aluminum. Although more complicated, water sliding under the surface of an HDPE vessel will stay in a smooth (laminar) flow for longer than that of an aluminum hull, therefore decreasing the overall skin friction of the vessel and increasing the fuel economy of the vessel.
Friction Coefficients
Aluminum has a thermal conductivity 504 times greater than HDPE. HDPE insulates the hull floor from the cold water below giving an HDPE hull a much warmer feel in cold conditions than an aluminum hull.
Fatigue is a failure criterion of a material which undergoes stress reversals, from compression to tension, for example when a vessel encounters a wave and rolls over the crest. Due to the elastic recovery of HDPE in stress reversal scenario, HDPE is highly resistant to stress cracking.
With a specific gravity of 0.94, HDPE is lighter than water. Although this is only relevant once the vessel is swamped, the lightweight property of HDPE minimizes the total volume of floatation material when required. The overall weight of an HDPE vessel will be similar to an aluminum vessel to provide the “feel good” rigidity of the vessel although an HDPE vessel can safely undergo significantly more deflection (movement) than can an aluminum vessel.
Plastic has a reputation for lasting hundreds of years. This has raised concerns about goods that are thrown away. We adopt a different approach and use its strengths to our advantage.
While raw HDPE can look unfinished, we reshape and refine the material from HDPE pipes to create a clean, high-quality finish. These truck beds shown on the right look as polished as a metal frame but delivers far greater impact resistance and durability. How? We line truck beds using the same high-grade HDPE.
