Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene applications

Many polymer items are designed specifically to make contact with other materials. Where surface contact is concerned, two key properties are coefficient of friction and abrasion resistance. Polymers used in such applications include ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polyacctal, fluorinated polymers, and natural and synthetic rubbers. Examples that we routinely come across include furniture upholstery, bushings and gears in office equipment, and bicycle tires. Industrial uses include the outer cover of electrical cables, and pipes that convey abrasive liquids such as slurries and powders. 

There are several interesting applications reported in the literature, such as insulated wire and cable, UV cross-linking of drawn fibers, and tapes from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Semi-interpenetrating networks (IPNs) from acrylates and polyurethanes are suitable as UV curable adhesives with high elasticity, good impact resistance, and excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates. ... 

Lemstra, P.J. Bastiaansen, C.W.M. Peijs, T. Jacobs, M.J.N. Fibres based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene—processing and applications. In Solid Phase Processing of Polymers, Ward, I.M., Coates, P.D., Dumolin, M.M., Eds. Hanser Gardner Publications, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio, 2000 Section 5.3, 173 pp. 

SEC columns (7.8 mm i.d.) packed with S-/on particles. For this reason manufacturers offer columns for Ugh-molecular-weight applications packed with 10-or even 20-/im particles (e.g., for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene). In this case the practical need to obtain unadulterated results overrides the theoretical need for high resolution. 

Major markets for LDPE are in packaging and sheeting, whereas HDPE is used mainly in blow-molded products (milk bottles, household and cosmetic bottles, fuel tanks), and in pipe, wire, and cable applications. Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene materials (see later), which are the toughest of plastics, are doing an unusual job in the textile machinery field. 

The focus in this chapter will be on the two main polyolefin polymers, namely polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The latter especially has established itself as a very versatile fiber with unique applications in the textile and nonwoven industry. Polyethylene, on the other hand, has not been widely used as a fiber compared to other synthetic polymers such as PET, PP, and nylon, due in part to its low melting point. This chapter will, however, discuss ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber that given its success and uniqueness in the synthetic fiber industry. 

C. Klapperich, L. Pruitt, K. Komvopoulos, Chemical and biological characteristics of low-temperature plasma treated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for biomedical applications. J. Mater. Sei. Mater. Med. 12, 549-556 (2001)... 

ChUukoti GR, Periyasam AP. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for medical applications. Technische TextUien 2012 55(3) E100-3. 

Conventionally, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is used for such applications with certain metallic alloys as counterparts. In comparison to this conventional polymer, PEEK and composites of PEEK with carbon fibers show the lowest wear rate on the counter metallic materials. 

The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene used in orthopedic applications is a type of polymer generally classified as a linear homopolymer. Our first task is to explain what is meant by all of these terms. Before proceeding to a definition of UHMWPE, one needs to first understand what constitutes a linear homopolymer. 

Sherazi, T.A., Ahmad, S., Akram Kashmiri, S., Kim, D.S., Guiver, M.D. Radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene powder for polymer electrolyte fuel cell application. II. Sulfonation and characterization. J. Membr. Sci. 333,... 

Beginn U (2003), Applicability of frozen gels from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and paraffin waxes as shape persistent solid/liquid phase change materials, Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 288(3), pp. 245-251. 

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) ways are usually made from extmded bars or strips. They have lower friction than metal ways and good corrosion resistance to many industrial fluids. They should have a surface finish of 32 to 125 microinches Ra. UHMWPE ways are good for use in dry or wet applications with straight-mnning or side-flexing flat-top chains. They do not absorb water and are not affected by moisture. 

Lemstra PJ, Bastiaansen CWM, Peijs T, Jacobs MJN (2000) Fibres based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene - processing and applications. In Ward IM, Coates PD, Dumoulin MM (eds) Solid phase processing of polymers. Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, p 172... 

Rimell, J.T. and Marquis, P.M. (2000) Selective laser sintering of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene for clinical applications./. Biomed. Mater. Res., 53 (4). 414- 20. 

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