High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)
The molecular weight of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is approximately ten times more (often between 3.5 and 7.5 million) than that of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) resins.
Both HDPE and UHMWPE have a similar look, but UHMWPE is a highly robust, abrasion-resistant, low-cost plastic that is better suited for industrial or manufacturing applications where friction or wear may be an issue. Learn more about UHMWPE characteristics in the sections below.
UHMWPE is manufactured utilizing metallocene catalysts and ethane units, resulting in a structure with bound ethane units, resulting in a UHMWPE structure with 100,000 to 250,000 monomer units per molecule.
- It possesses superior mechanical qualities, including great abrasion resistance, impact resistance, and a low coefficient of friction.
- Because the material is nearly completely inert, it is employed in the most corrosive or hostile situations at moderate temperatures.
- It is resistant to numerous solvents, except aromatic, halogenated hydrocarbon, and strong oxidizing agents such as nitric acid, even at high temperatures.
- Because of these unique qualities, the product may be employed in a variety of increased applications.
- UHMWPE is appropriate for heavy wear applications such as tubes, liners, silos, containers, and other machinery.
