Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW)
Polyethylene can be polymerised into types with an extremely high molecular weight of up to 10 million g/mol. From a molecular weight of 1 million g/mol, it is referred to as ultra-high molecular weight PE (PE-UHMW).
The higher the molecular weight, the better the wear resistance and impact strength in particular. Grades with a molecular weight of up to 5 million g/mol are used as standard. Particularly wear-resistant special grades have a molecular weight of 7 to over 9 million g/mol.
Due to the high molecular weight, the material viscosity also increases, meaning that PE-UHMW can only be processed by compression moulding. Injection moulding or screw extrusion processing are not possible. Semi-finished products for machining are therefore moulded and therefore relatively low-stress.
PE-UHMW has the most balanced property profile of all polyethylenes and offers very good impact strength even at temperatures down to minus 200°C. The material also has the best wear resistance of all engineering plastics at room temperature. The grades with a particularly high (> 7 million g/mol) molecular weight outperform the standard version by a further 20%.
Main features
- Excellent wear resistance
- High impact strength even at very low temperatures
- Heat deflection temperature 40°C
Standard types
| Type | DIN designation | Description of the | Data sheet | FDA |
| Ultra Wear® 1000 R | PE-UHMW R | from regenerate approx. 4.5 million g/mol | - | |
| X-tended Wear® XS | PE-UHMW | for dry running approx. 9 million g/mol. | - | |
| X-tended Wear® DS | PE-UHMW | highly wear-resistant approx. 9 million g/mol. | ||
| X-tended Wear® XL | PE-UHMW GB | Glass bead reinforcement approx. 9 million g/mol. | - | |
| X-tended Wear® SP | PE-UHMW X | radiation cross-linked approx. 9 million g/mol. | - | |
| Ultra Wear® GS | PE-UHMW MO | with MoS2 approx. 9 million g/mol. | - | |
| Ultra Wear® HT | PE-UHMW HT | heat-stabilised approx. 9 million g/mol. | ||
| Ultra Wear® V0 | PE-UHMW FR | self-extinguishing approx. 5 million g/mol. | - | |
| Ultra Wear® CS | PE-UHMW C | antistatic approx. 5 million g/mol. | ||
| Ultra Wear® oil | PE-UHMW | low coefficient of friction approx. 9 million g/mol. | - |
Components made of Ultra Wear® 1000, Ultra Wear® MD, Ultra Wear® HT, Ultra Wear® CS and Ultra Wear® oil can also be supplied with a food contact safety certificate in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004.