UHMW Polyethylene
The wear material. Where a surface takes constant abrasion or impact, UHMW outlasts materials that look stronger on paper. In sheet and rod.
UHMW typical properties
Figures are for virgin UHMW-PE stock shapes (Röchling Polystone M natural and MCAM TIVAR 1000). These are typical values, not a specification. The datasheet behind each figure is linked in its row: the manufacturer’s where one publishes the figure, a distributor’s otherwise. Figures vary by supplier and test method, so confirm against the datasheet for the grade and stock form you are designing with.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.93g/cc |
| Tensile strength | 3,100psi |
| Tensile modulus | 100,000psi Suppliers publish 80,000 to 125,000 psi. |
| Flexural modulus | 87,000psi |
| Hardness | 62-66Shore D |
| Izod impact, notched | No break No break in the notched Izod test. Notched Charpy tests give a finite result, so a sharp notch or corner still matters. |
| Max continuous service temp | 180°F manufacturer rating (maximum service temperature in air)Röchling Polystone M natural - ASTM (US product page) (opens in a new tab) |
| Heat deflection temp @ 264 psi | 108°F MCAM TIVAR 1000 reads 116 °F. |
| Water absorption, 24 h | <0.01% MCAM reports 0.1% by ISO 62, a different method. |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 11×10⁻⁵ in/in/°F |
| FDA food contact | Yes, natural grade Natural (virgin) grade, under 21 CFR 177.1520. |
Tensile strength is at yield. Datasheets that list 5,800 psi for UHMW are quoting strength at break, at about 300% elongation, which is not a design stress.
What UHMW is
Ultra high molecular weight PE with outstanding abrasion resistance and impact strength.
UHMW or HDPE?
They are both polyethylene, and for a simple tank or fitting HDPE is usually the sensible, cheaper choice. UHMW earns its cost where there is sliding wear or impact — that is the job it is made for, and the reason it holds up on conveyor and chute work where HDPE wears through.
Machining UHMW
UHMW is soft and cuts easily, but it is not a hold-tight-tolerances material — it is waxy, it can move after cutting, and sharp tooling matters more than feed rate. Best suited to parts where wear life matters more than a tight fit.
UHMW machining tolerances: why they slip, and how to design around itNeed UHMW parts machined to print?
Send us a drawing and we will quote it. Precision plastic machining in Linden, New Jersey since 1968.