Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel

The raw material for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel is ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with a molecular weight above 1.5 million, produced using mold compression molding technology. The main characteristics of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet include:

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel's high molecular weight gives it excellent performance properties. It is a thermoplastic engineering plastic with moderate pricing and superior performance, almost combining the advantages of various plastics. It possesses unparalleled comprehensive properties such as wear resistance, impact resistance, self-lubrication, corrosion resistance, impact energy absorption, low-temperature resistance, hygiene and non-toxicity, low adhesion, low water absorption, and relatively low density compared to ordinary polyethylene and other engineering plastics. In fact, no single polymer material currently possesses such a wide range of outstanding properties.

Wear Resistance

The wear resistance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel ranks first among plastics and even surpasses some metals. Figure 1 shows a comparison of wear resistance between UHMWPE and other materials. As can be seen from Figure 1, compared to other engineering plastics, UHMWPE's sand abrasion index is only 1/5 that of PA66, and 1/10 that of HDPE and PVC; compared to metals, it is 1/7 that of carbon steel and 1/27 that of brass. Its wear resistance is so high that conventional plastic wear testing methods are inadequate, necessitating the design of a specialized sand abrasion testing device. The wear resistance of UHMWPE is directly proportional to its molecular weight; the higher the molecular weight, the better the wear resistance.

Impact Resistance

UHMWPE's impact strength is among the highest of all engineering plastics. Figure 2 compares the impact strength of UHMWPE with other engineering plastics. From Figure 2, it can be seen that UHMWPE's impact strength is about twice that of impact-resistant PC, five times that of ABS, and more than ten times that of POM and PBTP. Its impact resistance is so high that conventional impact testing methods struggle to cause fracture failure. Impact strength increases with molecular weight, reaching its peak at a molecular weight of 1.5 million, then gradually decreasing with further increases in molecular weight. Notably, it maintains excellent impact strength even in liquid nitrogen (-195°C), a characteristic not found in other plastics. Additionally, its surface hardness increases with repeated impact.

Self-Lubrication

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has an extremely low friction coefficient (0.05–0.11), giving it excellent self-lubricating properties. Table 1 compares the friction coefficients of UHMWPE with other engineering plastics. From Table 1, it can be seen that UHMWPE's dynamic friction coefficient under water lubrication is half that of PA66 and POM, and under non-lubricated conditions, it is second only to PTFE, which has the best self-lubrication among plastics. When operating in sliding or rotating forms, it provides better lubrication than steel and brass even with added lubricating oil. Therefore, in the field of tribology, UHMWPE is regarded as an ideal friction material in terms of cost/performance.

Chemical Resistance

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has excellent chemical resistance. Except for strong oxidizing acids, it can withstand various corrosive media (acids, alkalis, salts) and organic media (except naphthalene solvents) within certain temperature and concentration ranges. After immersion in 80 types of media at 20°C and 80°C for 30 days, its surface shows no abnormalities, and other physical properties remain almost unchanged.

Impact Energy Absorption

UHMWPE has excellent impact energy absorption, with the highest impact energy absorption value among all plastics, resulting in excellent noise damping properties and superior sound reduction effects.

Low-Temperature Resistance

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has outstanding low-temperature resistance, remaining ductile even at liquid helium temperatures (-269°C), making it suitable for low-temperature components in the nuclear industry.

Hygiene and Non-Toxicity

UHMWPE is hygienic and non-toxic, making it suitable for contact with food and pharmaceuticals.

Non-Adhesion

The surface adsorption capacity of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel is very weak, with anti-adhesion properties second only to PTFE, which has the best non-adhesion among plastics. Thus, its surface does not easily adhere to other materials.

Low Water Absorption

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has very low water absorption, generally less than 0.01%, which is only 1% that of PA66. Therefore, it typically does not require drying before processing.

Density

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has a relatively low density compared to other engineering plastics.

Tensile Strength

Due to the structural characteristics necessary for high tensile orientation, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has unmatched ultra-high tensile strength. It can be processed into fibers with ultra-high elastic modulus and strength via gel spinning, with tensile strength up to 3–3.5 GPa and tensile elastic modulus up to 100–125 GPa. The specific strength of these fibers is the highest among all commercially available fibers, four times greater than carbon fiber, ten times greater than steel wire, and fifty times greater than aramid fiber.

Aging Resistance

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel has excellent aging resistance, resulting in longer service life and cost savings.

Energy Absorption

Utilizing the energy absorption characteristics of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel, it can be widely applied in the mechanical equipment industry on steel surfaces to reduce friction and improve efficiency.

Flame Retardancy: By adding flame retardants, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) can be made flame retardant.

Industry Applications of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Sheet UHMWPE Sheet Fender Panel Products:

Due to its excellent wear resistance, environmental friendliness, anti-static properties, cushioning, high wear resistance, moisture resistance, corrosion resistance, ease of processing, shock absorption, noiselessness, cost-effectiveness, dimensional stability, impact resistance, and self-lubrication, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sheet UHMWPE sheet fender panel is highly suitable for manufacturing various wear-resistant mechanical parts such as support rollers, bushings, nozzles, and mixing blades, with an extremely wide range of applications.