UHMW-PE
ASTM D4020 · GB GB/T 20028 · ISO PE-UHMW · also Tivar, UHMWPE
UHMW-PE is a linear polyethylene with molecular weight above ~3.1 million g/mol, supplied almost exclusively as compression-moulded sheet or ram-extruded rod because its melt will not flow for conventional injection moulding.
UHMW-PE grades and fills
UHMW-PE is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
internally lubricated bearing grade | Choose for unlubricated sliding, star-wheel and chain guides where the lowest coefficient of friction and least noise/stick-slip is wanted. | 17 | 28 | 250 | 62 Shore D |
Flame-retardant / low smoke grade | Specified for underground mining chutes, coal bunkers and rail/transit liners that must meet flame-spread and self-extinguishing requirements. | 18 | 26 | 180 | 65 Shore D |
Metal- and X-ray-detectable | For food and pharma lines where any chipped fragment must be caught by inline metal detectors or X-ray inspection. | 18 | 26 | 150 | 66 Shore D |
regrind / recycled sheet (non-food) | Lowest-cost option for thick sacrificial liners, truck-bed and hopper linings where certification and top-end impact strength are not required. | 19 | 28 | 180 | 64 Shore D |
Antistatic / static-dissipative | Use in explosive-dust silos, coal/grain handling and electronics areas where charge build-up on plastic liners must be bled away. | 20 | 30 | 220 | 65 Shore D |
Cross-linked (irradiated) medical bearing grade | Radiation cross-linked (often vitamin-E stabilised) UHMWPE for hip/knee bearing surfaces: far lower wear rate, at the cost of ductility and toughness. | 23 | 45 | 220 | 66 Shore D |
high-wear / high-load liner grade | Use where abrasive ore or aggregate impact would quickly wear plain UHMW liners and higher surface hardness plus better dimensional stability is needed. | 24 | 100 | 68 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways UHMW-PE is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDADefault | Virgin natural | Certification |
UV | Carbon-black UV-stabilised | Grade option |
What is UHMW-PE?
UHMW-PE is a linear polyethylene with molecular weight above ~3.1 million g/mol, supplied almost exclusively as compression-moulded sheet or ram-extruded rod because its melt will not flow for conventional injection moulding. It is chosen for outstanding abrasion resistance, very low friction, near-zero moisture pickup, excellent impact toughness down to cryogenic temperatures and broad chemical resistance — typical uses are chute and hopper liners, wear strips, conveyor guides, food-contact parts and orthopaedic bearing surfaces. Limits are low stiffness and strength, poor creep resistance under sustained load, high thermal expansion, a service ceiling around 80 °C, and difficult bonding/printing without surface treatment. UHMW-PE has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.0338 lb/in³), lighter than 77% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F). UHMW-PE has a yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 350% and the elastic modulus is 0.72 GPa (0.104 Msi).
What is UHMW-PE used for?
- Chute and hopper liners
- Conveyor wear strips
- Conveyor guide rails and curves
- Food-contact wear parts (FDA grade)
- Truck bed and dump body liners
- Star wheels and idler sprockets
- Orthopaedic bearing surfaces
- Cryogenic-service wear pads
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.41 W/m·K (0.237 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 350%, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 90/100, better than 82% of polymer grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 3.5 MPa·√m (3.19 ksi·√in), better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- High mold shrinkage — 3%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 25/100, worse than 90% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 21 MPa (3.05 ksi), worse than 79% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
UHMW-PE properties
Typical room-temperature values in the FDA condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
UHMW-PE has a density of 0.94 g/cm³ (0.0338 lb/in³), lighter than 77% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F).
Mechanical15
UHMW-PE has a yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 350% and the elastic modulus is 0.72 GPa (0.104 Msi).
Thermal11
UHMW-PE is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.41 W/m·K (0.237 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 200 µm/m·K (111.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
UHMW-PE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (90/100), better than 82% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of UHMW-PE takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 79% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability6
UHMW-PE's machinability is very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. UHMW-PE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with UHMW-PE
Is UHMW-PE easy to machine?
Machines fast with sharp positive-rake tools, high rake/large clearance, high feed and no coolant needed (air blast preferred); expect springback, gummy stringy chips and dimensional relaxation — rough, rest, then finish.
Can UHMW-PE be welded?
Effectively unweldable by conventional fusion because the melt does not flow; joints are made by mechanical fastening (with clearance for expansion), hot-plate/friction sintering, or specialist UHMW welding rod for surface repair; adhesive bonding requires corona/plasma or flame surface treatment.
Can UHMW-PE be formed, bent or molded?
Made as compression-moulded sheet or ram-extruded rod/profile at 180–220 °C rather than injection moulded; flat sheet can be line-bent or press-formed after through-heating to ~140 °C, and skived thin liner is a standard product form.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to UHMW-PE. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Good75 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair55 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair15 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
UHMW-PE chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| calcium stearate / antioxidantprocessing/stabiliser package; implant grades are additive-free per ASTM F648 | 0 – 0.3 | 0.05 |
| carbon blackUV and ESD/conductive variants only (2 % UV grade, up to ~15 % conductive) | ≈ 2 | 2 |
| mineral oilOil Filled bearing grade only | ≈ 5 | 5 |
| ceramic / mineral fillerCeramic Filled high-wear grade only | ≈ 15 | 15 |
| ethylene (–CH2CH2– repeat unit)linear homopolymer, viscosity-average molecular weight 3.1–10.5 million g/mol per ASTM D4020 / ISO 11542 | balance |
What surface finishes work on UHMW-PE?
No paint, plating or anodising will adhere without surface activation; leave as-machined or flame/plasma treat for printing and adhesives — surface stays waxy and cannot be polished to gloss.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to UHMW-PE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D4020
- ISO
- PE-UHMW
- GB (China)
- GB/T 20028
- Trade names
- TivarUHMWPEUHMWUltra High Molecular Weight
- Also called
- PolystoneUltra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
How much does UHMW-PE cost?
UHMW-PE is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
UHMW-PE — frequently asked
What is UHMW-PE used for?
UHMW-PE is typically used for chute and hopper liners, conveyor wear strips, conveyor guide rails and curves, food-contact wear parts (FDA grade), truck bed and dump body liners and star wheels and idler sprockets. In short: maximum wear resistance.
What is the yield strength of UHMW-PE?
UHMW-PE has a typical yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is UHMW-PE easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades). Machines fast with sharp positive-rake tools, high rake/large clearance, high feed and no coolant needed (air blast preferred); expect springback, gummy stringy chips and dimensional relaxation — rough, rest, then finish.
Can UHMW-PE be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Effectively unweldable by conventional fusion because the melt does not flow; joints are made by mechanical fastening (with clearance for expansion), hot-plate/friction sintering, or specialist UHMW welding rod for surface repair; adhesive bonding requires corona/plasma or flame surface treatment.
What surface finishes work on UHMW-PE?
No paint, plating or anodising will adhere without surface activation; leave as-machined or flame/plasma treat for printing and adhesives — surface stays waxy and cannot be polished to gloss.
Can UHMW-PE be formed, bent or molded?
Made as compression-moulded sheet or ram-extruded rod/profile at 180–220 °C rather than injection moulded; flat sheet can be line-bent or press-formed after through-heating to ~140 °C, and skived thin liner is a standard product form.
What is the maximum service temperature of UHMW-PE?
UHMW-PE is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does UHMW-PE cost?
UHMW-PE is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in UHMW-PE?
Yes — UHMW-PE is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM D4020 — Standard Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2018)
- ISO 11542-1/-2 — Plastics: Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2001)
- ASTM F648 — Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Powder and Fabricated Form for Surgical Implants — ASTM International (2021)
- TIVAR 1000 / TIVAR UV / TIVAR ESd / TIVAR Oil Filled product data — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (Quadrant) (2023)
- Polystone M / Polystone M Slide UHMW-PE sheet data — Röchling Industrial (2023)
- GUR UHMW-PE resin product brochure (GUR 1020/1050/4120) — Celanese (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS plastics datasheets — PE-UHMW — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.