HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) are both thermoplastic polymers made from ethylene monomers. The two plastics are indistinguishable based on appearance. The raw materials for both plastics are the reactive gases ethylene and hydrogen. These are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst, which differs depending on which plastic is being produced: a Ziegler-Natta catalyst for HDPE, or a metallocene catalyst for UHMW.
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HDPE can be injection molded or blow molded, or formed into sheets and then further shaped using thermoforming, vacuum forming, or plastic welding techniques. It is a great option for manufactured chemical and water tanks. UHMW is a highly durable, affordable, and abrasion-resistant material used in a variety of wear applications. This article will compare the properties, applications, and costs of HDPE and UHMW.
What Is HDPE?
High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is a type of thermoplastic polymer. Compared to other polyethylene types, it has a high density (0.95 g/cm3). The polymer chains can be closely packed in this substance because the degree of polymer chain branching is quite low. HDPE is fairly hard and offers good impact resistance. HDPE&#;s properties are unchanged by exposure to temperatures of up to 120°C and are autoclavable as a result. Some of HDPE's key characteristics are: high impact resistance, autoclavability, opaque/translucent appearance, high strength-to-weight ratio, low liquid permeability, and good chemical resistance.
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To produce HDPE, ethylene monomers, a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, hydrogen, and a comonomer are polymerized with a solvent. The solvent's main role is to carry heat away from the reaction sites where polymerization occurs. An external circulation heat exchanger then removes excess heat from the reaction chamber. The separation/drying process receives the reacted slurry. Transferring the slurry to a high-speed centrifuge allows the separation and recycling of the inert solvent from the newly-formed HDPE particles. The HDPE particles are dried under an atmosphere of high-temperature nitrogen and steam, which removes any remaining solvent, and leaves a dry, uniform HDPE powder behind.
In the powder dryer, the solvent is evaporated using high-temperature nitrogen and steam, which dries the wet powders. The scrubber recovers the solvent that has evaporated. The dried HDPE powder is transferred to an extruder, which melts and pelletizes the powder into the final raw HDPE material. Typical applications of HDPE include: containers for liquids, plastic shopping bags, pipe fittings, trays, and cutting boards. For more information, see our guide on What is High Density Polyethylene.
Material handling processes often utilize machinery with many moving parts. After time, the points of contact between moving parts can wear down and cause disruptions in the workflow. Wear strips and components act as a sacrificial link in the system to prevent damage to the critical components of the equipment.
Wear strips and components are often made of plastic, which provides protection from surface marring and scratching, noise reduction between mating parts, and elimination of slipping and sticking amid sliding parts. One of the most common plastic materials used in wear strip applications is UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). UHMW&#;s unique properties including high impact/abrasion resistance, self-lubrication, long wear life and ease of machining make it ideal for this application. Wear strips and components are resistant to corrosion and chemicals and able to keep moving parts free of external grease and lubricants. Wear strips and components are commonly used with bearings, slides, gears, cams, bushings, and rollers.
Piedmont Plastics stocks a large variety of materials for wear strips and components, including UHMW in a wide variety of thicknesses and sheet sizes. The team at Piedmont is knowledgeable in all of our product offerings and can help you choose the best materials for your project. For more challenging applications where the standard materials just won't do, our team of experts will work closely with you to find the best solutions.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of HDPE Wear Strips Supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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