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