PE-UHMW – the plastic all-rounder for a range of industries.

Today's diverse industries give rise to a whole range of different requirements when it comes to materials, components and assembly units:

In mechanical and plant engineering, for example, good coefficients of sliding friction are required, as well as a high level of impact strength. Good sliding properties based on a low coefficient of sliding friction are also required in the bulk goods industry, since optimum material flow has to be guaranteed at all times. For operators of paper machines, smooth operation 365 days a year is essential: this is why the flexibility, wear and breaking strength of the materials used are particularly important. And in the food processing industry, rigorous standards of hygiene and safety naturally apply due to the contact with food.

Plastic is often the material of choice in all these areas of application and in many other industries, too – especially ultra-high molecular polyethylene, PE-UHMW or PE 1000 for short.

Material with outstanding wear resistance.

PE-UHMW is characterized by a high molecular weight of 1 million g/mol to 10 million g/mol and exhibits the most balanced property profile of all polyethylenes: this high-performance plastic has very good sliding and wear properties as well as excellent impact strength. PE-UHMW is cold-resistant up to -200 °C as well as offering permanent thermal resistance up to a maximum of +80 °C. Due to its minimal level of moisture absorption, the material also has a particularly high level of dimensional stability and tolerance stability.

In a nutshell: the main properties of PE-UHMW.

• High level of abrasion and wear resistance
• Low coefficient of friction and therefore very good sliding properties
• High impact strength – even at low temperatures
• High resistance to corrosion
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Good electrical insulation
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Self-lubricating effect
• Virtually no moisture absorption
• Excellent dynamic load capacity
• Good noise attenuation
• Physiologically harmless

PE-UHMW by Wefapress for efficient processes.

Whether semi-finished products, profiles and guides or individual plastic parts: as the world's first producer of polyethylene sheets using the press sintering technique, we know exactly what counts in a wide range of applications. Since 1955, all Wefapress PE-UHMW products have been manufactured and processed at our plant in Vreden using high-quality raw materials. By choosing the right material and a specific finishing, we are also able to influence product properties in such a way that they correspond exactly to our customers' requirements: With the help of lubricants, crosslinkers, stabilizers, silicates and more, we modify and supplement the functionality of PE-UHMW (St 1000 as the standard version) for certain applications. What other benefits does Wefapress PE-UHMW have to offer in addition to all the technological parameters? Translucent to milky-white in its basic form, the material can be given virtually any color.

Examples of PE-UHMW modifications.

• St 6000 AST – antistatic
• PharmaStat – antistatic material in color
• St 9100 oil – self-lubricating
• St 6000 MDP – metallically detectable
• St 6000 XDP - visible through X-rays
• CeramX – excellent wear resistance at application temperatures of up to 105 °C
• St 9000 MOS² – withstands high mechanical loads
• St 7000 EHT – for application temperatures up to 100 °C
• St 7000 AMB – with microbial properties
• St 6000 protect – good noise insulation
• St 7000 FRAS - flame retardant and antistatic

PE-UHMW – the perfect fit for every industry.

The performance and reliability of plastics are determined by a wide range of factors. When opting for whichever standard or premium quality, for example, it is important to take (special) properties and areas of application into account. And use in a particular industry is an important criterion too, of course:

• Machine and plant construction
• Port and marine fender construction
• Beverage and filling industry
• Conveyor technology and automation
• Chemical industry
• Agriculture industry
• Bulk materials industry
• Paper industry
• Food processing industry

Our “Overview of engineering plastics” provides you with a convenient summary of the PE-UHMW range available from Wefapress in just a few clicks. In addition, our specialists will be pleased to advise you on the selection of the optimum material for your application.

Plus: semi-finished products, profiles and guides are available around the clock from the WefaStore and can be ordered directly from stock after registration. If you have individual product queries, please get in touch with our customer service.

Rely on Wefapress plastics expertise and develop the perfect solution for your company in collaboration with us!