UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled
Reinforced grade
ASTM D4020 · GB GB/T 20028 · ISO PE-UHMW · also Tivar, UHMWPE
Use where abrasive ore or aggregate impact would quickly wear plain UHMW liners and higher surface hardness plus better dimensional stability is needed.
Values for the Ceramic Filled condition
Other UHMW-PE grades and fills
UHMW-PE is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at UHMW-PE.
- Oil Filled
- FR
- MD
- Reprocessed
- ESD
- XLPE
- Ceramic Filled
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 |
Ceramic FilledThis page 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 |
What is UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled?
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled is UHMW-PE in the Ceramic Filled grade — use where abrasive ore or aggregate impact would quickly wear plain UHMW liners and higher surface hardness plus better dimensional stability is needed. UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled has a yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 100% and the elastic modulus is 1.1 GPa (0.16 Msi). UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F).
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
- 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
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, 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 Ceramic Filled properties
Typical room-temperature values for UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are UHMW-PE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F).
Mechanical15
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled has a yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 100% and the elastic modulus is 1.1 GPa (0.16 Msi).
Thermal11
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled is rated for continuous service to 85°C (185 °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 150 µm/m·K (83.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled 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 Ceramic Filled 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 Ceramic Filled's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled
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.
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.
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 |
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled — frequently asked
What is UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled used for?
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled 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 Ceramic Filled?
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled has a typical yield strength of 21 MPa (3.05 ksi) and a tensile strength of 24 MPa (3.48 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% 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 Ceramic Filled 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 Ceramic Filled?
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 Ceramic Filled 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 Ceramic Filled?
UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled is rated for continuous use to about 85°C (185 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled?
Yes — UHMW-PE Ceramic Filled 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.