What is uhmw

UHMW is a popular plastic for countless industrial applications that require durability, low friction, and chemical resistance. Applications include UHMW wear strips, chain guides, and marine dock fender pads. Values may vary according to brand name. Please ask your Curbell Plastics representative for more specific information about an individual brand.

Basically, both of these materials are known for being strong and durable. They also both offer chemical and abrasion resistance, along with cost efficiency and versatility through certain machining and fabrication processes. So when it comes to HDPE vs. Because of its strength, versatility, and resistance to water and chemicals, HDPE is often used to craft tanks or vessels that hold chemicals, water, or other fluids.

This can include everything from fuel tanks to industrial chemical processing equipment. Additionally, HDPE can hold up well when used in marine applications like boat components and marine board. The material can also be used to form small plastic components like bottle caps, as well as larger items like outdoor furniture and playground equipment.

Additionally, because of its thermoplastic qualities, HDPE is particularly well suited for use in 3D printing applications. So it can be shaped into nearly any type of product that may need a sturdy and dense foundation. UHMW is an especially popular plastic when it comes to industrial applications that need the ability to withstand constant friction, like those used in manufacturing facilities, conveyor systems, machinery, and even food processing and packaging equipment.

More specifically, it is commonly used to fabricate components like wear strips, chain guides, bumpers, bearings, and guide rails. It can also be used in construction surfaces that equipment may come into contact with, like outrigger pads.

Because UHMW plastics resist so many different kinds of abuse we use it for machining plastic components and chain guides destined for high-wear operations such as commercial and industrial conveyor systems. Its high-density polyethylene resin has a molecular weight range of 3 to 6 million, compared to , to , for high molecular weight HD-PE resins.

That difference is what ensures that this material is strong enough to withstand abrasion and impact better than lower level plastics. UHMW-PE cannot be transformed and molded by conventional plastic processing techniques injection molding, blow molding or thermoforming. Instead, it is shaped using techniques more commonly used for metals.

Compression molding and extrusion are the most common conversion process used with this resin because it produces a stronger, more consistent product. All types of UHMW plastic used in our custom-fabricated parts offer the following five key characteristics:. The high molecular weight is what gives UHMW-PE a unique combination of high impact strength, low co-efficient of friction and abrasion resistance that outwears carbon steel 10 to 1.

We can help you select just the right UHMW product for your product and application.