Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW)

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW) performs well under the most rigorous conditions of wear and environment because of it unique combination of physical and mechanical properties. Not only does it have the highest known impact strength of any thermoplastic currently available, but it also offers high resistance to abrasion, demonstrating only negligible weight loss when subjected to abrasion against copper, brass, or steel. In addition to these properties, a very low coefficient of friction and extremely low moisture absorption make UHMW an extraordinary material for industrial wear, impact, and sliding applications. Particularly effective where no lubrication is available or during the operation in the presence of water, UHMW is non-toxic, odorless, tasteless, and FDA approved ofr direct contact in meat or poultry processing. UHMW can be easily machine sawed, milled, turned, planed, drilled, or punched on standard wood and metal working equipment. (Coolants should be used to prevent overheating). UHMW offers a diversity of usage in tough applications in a wide range of industries.

Typical Applications:

• Gears
• Bearings
• Bushings
• Conveyor Parts
• Wear Surfaces
• Liners
• Feed Screws
• Impact Surfaces

Mining:

• Chute Linings
• Impact Plates
• Hopper Linings
• Conveyor Plates
• Bumper Linings
• Non-Stick Surfaces
• Rope Guides
• Pulleys

Pulp & Paper:

• Doctor Blades
• Formings Boards
• Water Scrapers
• Suction Box Covers
• Splitting Wedges
• Pulp Paddles
• Suction Box Linings
• Drag Chain Wear Strips

Food & Beverage:

• Bottle Handling Star Wheels
• Cutting Boards
• Vat Linings
• Mixer Paddles
• Glue Surfaces
• Sealer Surfaces
• Wear Plates
• Timing Screws
• Conveyor Wheels
• Guides
• Chutes and Chute Linings

Chemical:

• Conveyor Wear Strips
• Linings
• Hopper Linings
• Digester Covers
• Flexible Mixer Shafts
• Mixer Paddles
• Grinder Feed Chutes

Polyethylene Properties
Property					ASTM or UL Test	LDPE	HDPE	UHMW
Water Absorption (24hrs)				(%)	D-570	<0.01	0	0
Density				(lb/in³)	D-792	0.033	0.035	0.034
				(g/cm³)		0.92	0.95	0.93
IZOD Notched Impact				(ft-lb/in)	D-256	No Break	3	No Break
Tensile Strength				(psi)	D-638	1,800-2,200	4,600	3,100
Tensile Modulus				(psi)	D-638	-	-	125,000
Tensile Elongation at Yield				(%)	D-638	600	900	-
Hardness				(Shore D)	D-785	D41-D50	D69	D62-D66
Compressive Strength				(psi)	D-695	-	-	2,000
Compressive Modulus				(psi)	D-695	-	-	-
Flexural Strength				(psi)	D-790	-	-	-
Flexural Modulus				(psi)	D-790	-	200,000	125,000
Thermal Conductivity				(BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F)	C-177	-	-	2.92
				(x 104 cal/cm-sec-°C)		-	-	10.06
Heat Deflection Temp at 66 psi				(°F / °C)	D-648	110/38	-	203/95
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion				(x 10-5 in./in./°F)	D-696	-	-	11.1
Flammability Rating					UL-94	-	-	H-B
Melting Temperature				(°F / °C)	D-3418	-	-	-
Max Operating Temp				(°F / °C)	-	160/71	180/82	180/82
Dialectric Strength, 1/8" thick				(V/mil)	D-149	-	-	900
Dialectric Constant at 50 kHz					D-150	-	-	2.3
Dissipation Factor at 50 kHz					D-150	-	-	0.0002
Volume Resistivity at 50% RH				(ohm-cm)	D-257	-	-	>5 x 1016
Physical	Mechanical	Thermal	Electrical