Mar. 03, 2025
UHMW-PE stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. It is the highest quality polyethylene (PE) available, engineered for tough jobs and a wide range of applications. It delivers savings in a number of difficult applications. Ultra High Molecular Weight is the secret of this polymer&#;s unique properties. Its high-density polyethylene resin has a molecular weight range of 3 to 6 million, compared to 300,000 to 500,000 for high molecular weight (HMW) resins. That difference is what ensures that this material is strong enough to withstand abrasion and impact better than lower level poly products. UHMW-PE&#;s high molecular weight means it will not melt or flow as a molten liquid. Processing methods are therefore derived from those of powder metal technology. UHMW-PE cannot be transformed and molded by conventional plastic processing techniques (injection molding, blow molding or thermoforming). Compression molding is the most common conversion process used with this resin because it produces a stronger, more consistent product.
TIVAR® is the brand name (from Poly-Hi) for a special formulation of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE). UHMW-PE is a unique family of high-density polyethylene with a molecular weight 3 million or higher. UHMW-PE is a high performance polymer with a high melt viscosity that can be extruded, fabricated or compression molded.
TIVAR® is an acronym for Tough Inert Very Abrasion Resistant.
TIVAR® is known for its high abrasion resistance, natural lubrication, high impact strength, chemical-, corrosion-, and moisture-resistance and acoustic impedance.
Due to its abrasion-, corrosion-, chemical- and moisture-resistant properties, TIVAR® is commonly used in applications where conditions may be too harsh for other materials. It is a cost-effective high performance polymer used to produce low cost, high quality parts.
In most cases, TIVAR® will out-wear materials such as Nylon, Teflon® or Acetal. It can also outperform metals such as steel and aluminum when used in the proper applications. Material performance is of course dependent on the specific environmental conditions.
UHMW is a self-lubricating material which exhibits excellent wear and abrasion properties as well as adding extremely high impact strength. A few of the markets which would utilize these attributes would be snowboard bottoms, package handling, packaging, food processing and automotive.
The high molecular weight is what gives UHMW-PE a unique combination of high impact strength efficient of friction and abrasion resistance that outwears carbon steel 10 to 1 making it more suitable for applications where lower molecular weight grades fail.
Yes, UHMW-PE is both FDA and USDA approved for use in food processing and medical applications.
There are three tests you can perform:
UHMW-PE can operate continuously up to 180 degrees F and intermittently at 200 degrees F with custom blends available to enhance the temperature range up to 300 degrees F. UHMW-PE can perform without degradation at extremely low temperatures (-452 degrees F).
The sustained high temperature use is 180 degrees F and the intermittent use is 200 degrees F.
Not for short times but for longer times above 200 degrees F it loses mechanical properties, abrasion and impact.
Water solutions are generally safe except highly oxidizing chemicals such as bleach. Hydrocarbons such as gasoline, kerosene, oil and grease cause swelling. Chlorinated solvents cause swelling. Organic alcohols, ketones and acids have little effect.
UHMW has no UL recognition. It would be HB on UL-1 &#; that is slow burning (less than 3&#; per minute).
It is hard to tell &#; maybe some black or other colored specks might be present. The only way to determine is by a sand slurry test. After that test, it would tend to feel stiffer or harder. There may be some increase in modules. If the resin has been reprocessed many times, abrasion and impact resistance can greatly affected.
Yes, UHMW does not absorb water and is chemically inert.
UHMW has the highest abrasion resistance of any thermoplastic polymer. When used as a wear liner, UHMW will not cake or stick to metal. It also offers excellent noise abatement in material handling applications.
No, UHMW is a self-lubricating polymer and requires no additional lubrication.
Hydrogen and nitrogen don't affect it, but oxygen could.
UHMW manufacturers have done extensive research on numerous additives that can enhance a property of UHMW-PE thereby providing customized products to meet customer requirements.
Yes
No, only pigmented white (the standard, stock color) and black FDA can be made. For black, minimum order amounts would apply. Other colors would bleed out at higher temperatures, and therefore something you would want to avoid.
While natural (milky white) and black are standard stock colors, UHMW-PE can be produced in a variety of Pantone colors.
Although TIVAR® never actually melts, it will begin to lose its excellent properties at a temperature of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). TIVAR® will generally perform very well down to cryogenic temperatures, but like other plastics, it will expand and contract with variations in temperatures.
UHMW can be manufactured in conductive or anti-static forms making it ideal for use in electronics and semi conductor applications.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Dragon.
In its natural state, UHMW-PE is not UV stable, but formulations are available to provide UV stability in natural, black or any custom color.
No, you can&#;t coat UHMW on because of two reasons: It does not melt to form a continuous surface.; It requires pressure to weld all the unmelted particles at high temperatures.
Yes, wear tape is a thin film of UHMW with adhesive backing than can be bonded to the surface.
UHMW can be made in films .003&#; through .125&#; thick in continuous coil from ¼&#; up to 24&#; wide and cut to length in pieces and in stamped parts.
Tolerance levels are dependent on the manufacturing method and part design. Contact us for specific technical data.
Yes, again the process is much like regular HDPE. Thick sections of UHMW may be more difficult than HDPE because of lower modules. If the plastic is softer, like UHMW, more attenuation of the ultrasonic energy occurs.
Yes, it behaves much like regular HDPE. The minimum temperature is 400 degrees F and the minimum pressure of 300 psi is highly recommended.
0.8%.
Not for most applications. The reason is the large difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of metal and UHMW puts high stresses on the bond if the bond encounters temperature extremes.
There are two methods of adhering &#; the use of pressure sensitive systems (peel and stick) and allowing UHMW-PE to be bonded using epoxy systems or contact cements. A traditional metal mechanical fastening can also be used if preferred.
Bending or folding sheet can be done efficiently above the melt point at 300 degrees F. At that temperature, it shapes easily. However, it must be fastened in the bent or folded position until cooled.
The minimum UHMW thickness is usually 1/4&#;. The liner should be thicker in impact areas and thinner in slide areas. Important notes: UHMW cannot be firmly fastened to metals because of a large difference in thermal expansion. UHMW expands five times as fast as steel and three times as fast as aluminum and about the same as wood but slightly more than concrete.
Fasteners are the best way to secure UHMW to metal. The UHMW must be allowed to expand or float. Large flat head fasteners must be used. Fastener shaft holes in UHMW must be over-sized to allow for sheet expansion and contraction.
You can build plenty of different projects with a huge variety of building materials available today including plastics. One increasingly popular choice is Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight (UHMW) polythene. If you&#;re curious about what kind of material is UHMW, it&#;s a type of high-grade plastic that has many uses. We break down some of the most common questions asked about it below.
UHMW plastic is a particularly tough plastic. It&#;s highly resistant to impact damage compared to HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic and has an approximate tensile strength of psi and flexural modulus of 110,000psi.
Because of this, the plastic is perfect for a wide range of uses including production lines and food packaging and processing machinery. It&#;s also highly durable and able to be used over and over again without significant wear.
Yes, UHMW plastic can be welded. However, to get the best results it&#;s better to avoid using regrind although in some cases regrind plastic can also be welded.
While the plastic can be welded, it&#;s important to understand if there were any additives added to the plastic, it may result in it being unweldable.
For instance, if silicone or specific dyes to pigment the plastic are added, the material is no longer weldable. Unfortunately, the only surefire way to test which colours aren&#;t weldable is to actually try welding the plastic or to speak to the manufacturer if welding it is possible.
No. It would be HB on UL-1&#;i.e. slow-burning (less than three inches per minute). You&#;re safe to have it around heat without the worry of it bursting into flames from sparks. Because of this, and the fact that most UHMW plastic is weldable makes it perfect for a variety of projects and applications. Not least of which because the plastic is also highly abrasion and wear&#;resistant.
It&#;s not recommended that you try to heat and bend UHMW plastic. The material has a memory and will naturally want to return to its original shape until it is heated to a level where it just melts and no longer bends.
However, because of this property, it is perfect for products and applications where it needs to retain its shape, even under significant heat.
UHMW is not naturally anti-static, but it is possible to purchase anti-static UHMW plastic. This type of anti-static plastic can be protected against static discharge and its properties will also keep dust and particles from building up on the material. The additives put into the plastic to make it anti-static will also last for the life of the material.
This property is particularly helpful when replacing metal components that wear out faster.
UHMW plastic can&#;t be painted due to its water and chemically-resistant properties. While painting it isn&#;t possible, the material does come in a wide selection of colours that are likely solid substitutes to your initial painting plans.
Plastics are some of the best materials to work with as they break down much slower than other materials. What kind of material is UHMW? One that&#;s perfect for a wide range of projects and uses compared to other types of plastic. It&#;s durability, chemical resistance, and high abrasion resistance make it a natural choice for many uses.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit UHMWPE Lined Tubing.
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