Polyethylene - U.H.M.W. (UHMW PE) - Material Information

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW PE) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic celebrated for its outstanding wear resistance, high impact strength, and exceptional chemical inertness. Comprising extremely long polymer chains with molecular weights between 3–6 million g/mol, UHMW PE exhibits superior toughness and self-lubricating properties, making it indispensable in demanding industrial and biomedical applications.

Material Overview

UHMW PE’s performance stems from its high crystallinity and strong van der Waals interactions among extended polymer chains. The high molecular weight contributes to entanglement density, enhancing abrasion resistance and energy absorption. Recent studies reveal that increased crystallinity—ranging from 40% to 60%—significantly reduces wear rate and improves resistance to plastic deformation (Zeng et al., 2022). The polymer’s typical hardness reaches around 30 MPa, with tensile strengths of 40 MPa and elongation exceeding 300%. High crystallinity also enhances wear performance in crosslinked UHMW PE, where optimized ?-irradiation processing can further extend component life without compromising oxidation stability (Wang et al., 2023).

UHMW PE fibers, produced through gel spinning and drawing, exhibit crystallinity levels up to 85% and near-perfect molecular orientation (Ren, 2010). This unique morphology yields tensile moduli comparable to Kevlar® but at half the density, making the material ideal for lightweight structural and protective applications. Rheological studies on UHMW PE/HDPE blends demonstrate that molecular disentanglement and enhanced orientation can yield fibers with superior mechanical and dynamic performance (Wang et al., 2023b).

Applications and Advantages

UHMW PE’s combination of low friction, high toughness, and chemical resistance supports a wide array of applications: mechanical wear parts, marine dock fenders, artificial joints, ballistic armor, and high-performance ropes. Compared with HDPE, UHMW PE exhibits far greater abrasion resistance and lower moisture absorption, enabling extended service life in harsh environments (Kurtz, 2004). It also possesses a low dielectric constant and excellent cryogenic toughness, further broadening its use in electrical and aerospace systems.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow offers UHMW Polyethylene in various formats including powder, rod, sheet, and fiber. Each form maintains high purity and consistency suitable for both research and industrial applications. Custom dimensions and formulations can be specified to meet project-specific requirements. For availability and detailed specifications, explore the Goodfellow product finder.

Explore Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and other advanced polymers in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Zeng, S., Li, Q., Liu, H., Zhang, Q., & Wang, K. (2022). *Influence of crystallinity on wear behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and the wear mechanism*. Journal of Polymer Engineering, 42(8), 651–660.
• Wang, Z., Li, Q., Chen, X., & Zhang, Q. (2023). *High crystallinity makes excellent wear resistance in crosslinked UHMWPE*. Polymer, 275, 126059.
• Ren, Y. (2010). *The properties and applications of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibre*. Guangzhou Chemical Industry, 38(4), 45–48.
• Wang, F., Liu, L., Xue, P., & Chen, K. (2023). *Influence of high-density polyethylene content on the rheology, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of melt spun UHMWPE/HDPE blend fibers*. Journal of Industrial Textiles, 52(8), 1083–1097.
• Kurtz, S. M. (2004). *A primer on UHMWPE*. In *Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: Components for Joint Replacements* (pp. 1–26). Academic Press.