A picture to know what UHMWPE fiber is
What is UHMWPE fiber?
UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) fiber, made from polyethylene with molecular weight of 1 million to 5 million, with the highest specific strength, the highest specific modulus and the lightest specific gravity in the world, is one of the three top high-performance fibers today, which includes aramid fiber, carbon fiber and UHMWPE fiber.
Comparison of Strength and Density of Several Fibers
(Dyneema® is UHMWPE fiber)
Characteristics of UHMWPE fiber
♦UHMWPE fiber was first commercialized by Royal DSM N.V. in the late 1970s.
♦One of the three high-tech fibers (carbon fiber, aramid fiber and UHMWPE fiber) in the world.
The fiber has the following excellent properties:
- Ultra high strength
- Light weight
- Great impact resistance
- Great electrical insulation
- Great thermal conductivity
- Great chemical corrosion resistance
- Great UV resistance
The disadvantages of UHMWPE fiber are low heat resistance (the melting temperature under stress is 145 ℃ – 160 ℃), a little poor compressibility, flammability and creep.
Synthesis technologies of UHMWPE fiber
The method of gel spinning – hot stretching has become a relatively developed industrial production technology. According to the different solvents, it can be divided into dry synthesis (ten naphthalene and other high volatile solvents, represented by DSM / Toyobo) and wet synthesis (mineral oil, white oil and other low volatile solvents, represented by Honeywell / Mitsui Chemicals).
Compared with wet spinning process, dry spinning has the advantages of short process, environmental protection and high comprehensive performance index of products.
Applications of UHMWPE fiber
Fields | Rope | Fabric | Compound |
Marine industry | Mooring, trawling, towing, offshore aquaculture, offshore oil production and seabed acquisition | Offshore oil retaining dike, fishing trawl, purse seine, deep-sea aquaculture cage | Hull and components |
Military equipment | Sea mine laying net, parachute rope | Soft bulletproof clothing, parachute, camouflage net | Tank armor plate, light armored vehicle body, aircraft, armed helicopter armor plate, automobile bulletproof plate, bulletproof helmet, etc |
Safety protection | Anti cutting gloves, anti cutting work clothes, stab proof clothes | Ballistic helmet, high-performance ballistic plate, ballistic shield | |
Sports | Mountaineering rope, fishing line, racket net wire, kite rope, bow string | Sail, blowing boat, fencing suit | Rowing, archery bow, ski, hockey stick, fishing rod |
Aerospace | Air ship sea rescue net, parachute rope | Structural parts in aircraft cabin and cockpit safety protection door | |
Medical care | Surgical suture, artificial muscle | Medical gloves | X-ray room anti shielding workbench |
Construction industry | Cargo sling | Protective and cargo lifting net | Safety helmet |
Others | Flexible container, lifting rope, vehicle traction rope, balloon pull rope, helicopter lifting rope, stone filled net bag, optical cable reinforcing core | Blanket, conveyor belt | Wireless transmitting fairing |
Applied examples
Body Armor and Armored Car | |
![]() | ![]() |
Anti Cutting Gloves | |
![]() | |
Mooring and Lifting Band | |
![]() | ![]() |
Fishing Line | |
![]() | ![]() |
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!