UHMW, or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, is a subset of the thermoplastic polyethylene. It features extremely long chains and as a result is a very tough material, with the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made. Some trade names for UHMW include BRAXX®, FELXIFEND®, GUR®, Lennite®, LubX® C, LUNS®, POLY FEND®, Polystone® M, Ramex®, Tivar® and ULTRA FEND®
| UltraPoly W1 | Ceram-P | |||
| Mechanical | ASTM Test Method | Natural UHMW-PE | Reinforced Wear Enhanced UHMW-PE | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength to Weight Ratio | - | 3.1 | 2.9 | ksi |
| Specific Gravity @73 F | D792 | 0.93 | 0.96 | - |
| Tensile Strength @73 F, (ult)/(yld) | D638 | 2,900 (yld) | 2,800 (yld) | psi |
| Tensile Modulus of Elasticity @73 F | D638 | 100,000 | 131,000 | psi |
| Tensile Elongation at Break @73 F | D638 | 300 (4@yld) | 300 | % |
| Flexural Strength @73 F | D790 | - | - | psi |
| Flexural Modulus of Elasticity @73 F | D790 | 77,000 | 100,000 | psi |
| Shear Strength @73 F | D732 | 4,000 | - | psi |
| Comprehensive Strength, (% Deformation) @73 F | D695 | - | - | psi |
| Comprehensive Modulus of Elasticity @73 F | D695 | - | - | psi |
| Hardness, Rockwell, Scale as noted @73 F | D785 | (R64) | - | - |
| Hardness, Durometer, Shore D @73 F | D2240 | D68 | - | - |
| Izod Impact, (Notched) @73 F | D256 Type A | No Break | 50.0 | ft-lb/in of notch |
| Coefficient of Friction, (Dry vs Steel) Dynamic | - | 0.12 | - | - |
| Limiting PV, (with 4 to 1 factor of safety applied) | - | - | - | psi-ft/min |
| Thermal | ASTM Test Method | Natural UHMW-PE | Reinforced Wear Enhanced UHMW-PE | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion @73 F | E-831 (TMA) | 1.1 E-04 | 1.3 E-04 | in/in/F |
| Heat Deflection Temperature @264 psi | D648 | 114 | - | F |
| Tg-Glass transition termperature, (Amorphous) | D3418 | - | - | F |
| Melting Point, (VS=Vicat Softening Temp.) | D3418 | 276 | - | F |
| Continuous Service Temperature in Air, (Max.) | - | - | - | F |
| Thermal Conductivity | - | - | - | BTU-in/hr-ft2-F |
| Electric | ASTM Test Method | Natural UHMW-PE | Reinforced Wear Enhanced UHMW-PE | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dielectric Strength, Short Term | D149 | - | 2,280 | Volts/mil |
| Volume Resistivity | D257 | - | >1E15 | ohm-cm |
| Dielectric Constant @10E6 Hz | D150 | 2.3 - 2.35 | - | - |
| Dissipation Factor @10E6 Hz | D150 | 500.000 | - | - |
| Flammability @3.1 mm unless noted | UL94 | - | - | - |
| H2O | ASTM Test Method | Natural UHMW-PE | Reinforced Wear Enhanced UHMW-PE | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Absorption, Immersion, 24 hours | D570(7) | Nil | Nil | % by weight |
| Water Absorption, Saturation | D570(7) | Nil | Nil | % by weight |