Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-07-15 Origin: Site
What is UHMWPE sheet?
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is known as the "king of plastics" and is a polymer material with excellent performance. Its molecular weight is usually between 1.5 million and 8 million, far exceeding ordinary polyethylene (HDPE), so it has excellent properties such as ultra-high wear resistance, self-lubrication, impact resistance, and corrosion resistance.
In recent years, UHMWPE sheets have shined in logistics, new energy, medical, marine engineering, military industry and other fields, and have even gradually replaced metal materials in some applications. This article will comprehensively analyze the core characteristics, industry applications, purchasing skills and future trends of UHMWPE sheets to help you quickly master this "black technology" material!
Five core characteristics of UHMWPE sheet
1.Super wear resistance: more durable than steel
Wear resistance is 7 times that of carbon steel and 4 times that of nylon
Suitable for high wear environments, such as conveyor belts, chute liners, and mining machinery
2. Extremely low friction coefficient: self-lubricating and non-adhesive
Friction coefficient is only 0.07~0.11 (close to ice surface)
Suitable for food machinery, skis, bearing bushings, etc.
3. Super impact resistance: -40℃ still maintains toughness
Impact resistance is 5 times that of ABS and 2 times that of PC
Widely used in military bulletproof, mining machinery and other fields
4. Chemical corrosion resistance: no fear of acid, alkali, and salt
Can resist strong acid (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid), strong alkali (sodium hydroxide), and organic solvents
Suitable for chemical equipment, electroplating tanks, and sewage treatment
5. Food grade safety & Lightweight
FDA certified, can be used in food processing and medical equipment
Density is only 0.93~0.94g/cm³, lighter than water, easy to install
6 major industry applications of UHMWPE sheets
1. Logistics and transportation system
Large logistics warehouses such as JD.com and SF Express use UHMWPE conveyor belt guides, which increase their service life by 300%
2. New energy batteries
Companies such as CATL explore the application of UHMWPE in lithium battery separators
3. Medical field
Key materials for artificial joints (acetabular cups, knee joints), with an annual surgical volume of more than 100,000 cases
4. Marine engineering
Used for ship fenders and seawater desalination equipment, corrosion resistance for up to 20 years
5. Food processing
Danone, Mengniu and other companies use wear-resistant linings for filling lines, which meet food safety standards
6. Military protection
Used for bulletproof armor and explosion-proof shields, lighter and stronger than traditional materials
4 key points for purchasing UHMWPE sheets
1. Molecular weight selection: the higher the better!
1.5 million ~ 3 million: general type, suitable for general wear-resistant parts
3 million ~ 5 million: high wear resistance, suitable for mining and heavy industry
5 million and above: special needs, such as military industry and medical treatment
2. Processing precautions
Cannot be cut with ordinary knives, easy to stick to the knife, need to use special CNC or laser cutting
Thermal deformation temperature is about 80~100℃, avoid long-term use in high temperature environment
3. How to distinguish true and false UHMWPE?
Combustion method: True UHMWPE burns without black smoke and has a waxy smell
Density test: The density of the genuine product is 0.93~0.94g/cm³ (floating on water)
Incision observation: The cut of true UHMWPE is delicate and has no granularity
4. Cost optimization plan
Thin plate (10~30mm): suitable for light-load wear-resistant environment
Thick plate (50~100mm): suitable for mining and heavy industry
Future trend of UHMWPE
Graphene-enhanced UHMWPE: Impact strength increased by 240%, may be used for aerospace materials in the future
3D printed UHMWPE: A new direction for customized medical prostheses
Policy support: Made in China 2025 focuses on supporting high-performance polymer materials
UHMWPE sheets are changing multiple industries. Are you already using them?
