Corrosion- and chemical-resistant low friction thermoplastic for high friction and wear applications, industrial applications, and more.
Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) is a lightweight and high strength thermoplastic material with a low coefficient of friction and excellent wear properties. It exhibits great impact, chemical, and corrosion resistance and can be easily machined using standard woodworking tools.
Properties
Resists corrosion and chemicals
Low coefficient of friction
Self-lubricating
Excellent wear properties
Extremely low moisture absorption
Odorless, tasteless, non-toxic material
Applications
General high friction applications
Wear strips
Conveyor guard rails
Food processing machining components
Chute, hopper, bin liners
Industries
Industrial
Automotive
Food
Aerospace
Packaging
UHMW Overview
What is UHMW?
UHMW, also called UHMW-PE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), is a type of thermoplastic material that is lightweight, high-strength, and has a low coefficient of friction and superior abrasion resistance. UHMW is often used in the manufacturing of food processing equipment, conveyor systems, medical devices, and other industrial applications. UHMW is used as a substitute for metal in many industrial applications due to its superior strength, low friction, and chemical resistance. It can also be used as a protective layer on conveyors, gears, and other moving parts to reduce wear and tear. UHMW is used in the food industry, as it is FDA approved and can withstand high temperatures.
UHMW is used for conveyor wear strips, bearings, pipe, snowmobile track sprockets, and other applications that require a balance of abrasion resistance and impact strength with a low coefficient of friction. Virgin UHMW can commonly be found in food applications such as food containers because the material is nontoxic and has low moisture absorption.
Is UHMW and HDPE the same?
UHMW and HDPE are different semi-crystalline plastics that share certain properties. UHMW and HDPE both have high impact strength and abrasion resistance. However, UHMW has a very high molecular weight due to its long polymer chains whereas HDPE has a high strength-to-density ratio.
Is UHMW a hard or soft plastic?
UHMW is an extremely hard and tough plastic that features high abrasion and wear resistance. It has low moisture absorption and a light weight. Part of UHMW's toughness comes from the plastic's extremely organized molecular structure.
Is HDPE stronger than UHMW?
UHMW is considered slightly stronger than HDPE due to its higher tensile strength and increased density. However, both UHMW and HDPE are easy to machine and have great impact resistance.
General Properties1 of UHMW
Property
Unit
Value
Specific Gravity
g/cc
1.45
Water Absorption @ 24 hrs.
%
0.01
Hardness
Shore D
D64
Izod Impact, Notched
ft-lbs/in.
18
Tensile Strength
psi
2800-3100
Flexural Modulus
ksi
61-110
Compressive Strength
psi
3600
Compressive Modulus
ksi
84
Elongation at Break
%
125
Coefficient of Friction
---
0.14
Maximum Service Temperature
°F
180
Melting Point
°F
260
1The values listed are typical and are meant only as a guide to aid in design. Field testing is always recommended to determine exact values for each application.