Thermoplastic
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene)
Linear polyethylene with extreme chain length; the highest impact strength and abrasion resistance of any thermoplastic and PTFE-like low friction — bearings, chute liners, cutting boards, ballistic and hip-implant grades. Tough but low-modulus and creep-prone.
| Property | Value | Source | Method | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.94 g/cm³ | MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values | — | 23 °C, dry | — |
| Young's modulus E | 0.8 GPa | MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values | — | 23 °C, dry | low-modulus; ~0.5–0.9 typical |
| Tensile strength | 49 MPa | MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values | — | 23 °C, dry | ultimate; yield ~20 MPa |
| Glass transition Tg | -120 °C | Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed. | DSC | 23 °C, dry | polyethylene glass transition; far below room temperature — always ductile in service |
| Melting point Tm | 130 °C | MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values | DSC | 23 °C, dry | melting onset |
Compare with
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs Polypropylene (PP)
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs Polyamide 6 (PA6, Nylon 6)
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs Polycarbonate (PC)
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs PEEK
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs Polyethylene, high-density (HDPE)
UHMW-PE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) vs PVC, rigid (uPVC)
Sources
- MakeItFrom.com materials database — typical grade values
- Callister & Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, 10th ed.
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary. Always confirm against the supplier datasheet before design work. Data policy: docs/DATA-SOURCES.md in the repository.