Material detail · DMX-EN-201
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE)
UHMW-PE is specified where abrasion resistance, impact strength, and low friction matter more than heat tolerance. It performs reliably up to roughly 80 °C, resists moisture absorption, and machines cleanly into wear strips, liners, gears, and conveyor components. For food and beverage processing, FDA-compliant grades are available with documented material traceability.
- Family code
- DMX-EN-201
- Grades listed
- 8
- Stock forms
- Sheet 3–100 mm
- Docs
- CoC · CoA on request
Grades carried
Grade selection
Grades are listed with the duty each is normally specified against. Food-contact status applies to the individual grade, not to the material family.
8 grades listed
| Grade | Notes | Contact status |
|---|---|---|
| UHMW-PE Blue, FDA Compliant | Food contact applications | Food contact |
| TIVAR® 1000 | General-purpose wear grade | Industrial |
| TIVAR® 88 / 88-2 | Enhanced abrasion resistance | Industrial |
| TIVAR® ESD / EC Conductive | Static-sensitive environments | Industrial |
| TIVAR® DrySlide | Low-friction, lubricant-free applications | Industrial |
| Polystone® M AST-FDA | Food-grade, anti-static | Food contact |
| Polystone® M Oil Filled | Enhanced self-lubrication | Industrial |
| DURAVAR® UV | UV-stabilized, outdoor/exposed applications | Industrial |
Trade names are the property of their respective manufacturers and are listed to identify the grades we stock. Availability varies by form and lot — confirm the current stock position before releasing a drawing to production.
Typical properties
Performance envelope
Typical values for unfilled grades at 23 °C. These are indicative for grade selection, not specification limits — certificates of analysis are issued against the shipped lot.
Common applications
- Conveyor guides and wear strips
- Chute liners
- Sprockets and gears
- Cutting boards
- Food-processing contact surfaces
- Marine and dock components
Compliance
Standards available on selected grades
Damrix Plastics is a distributor. The standards below are held by the certified manufacturing partners in our supply chain and apply to specific grades and lots — not to the family as a whole, and not as a Damrix certification.
Every shipment is released with a certificate of conformance and lot-level traceability. Certificates of analysis, FDA food-contact statements and biocompatibility summaries are issued on request against the specific grade supplied.
Common questions
UHMW-PE specification questions
The questions raised most often during grade selection. If your application sits outside these answers, send the operating conditions and we will confirm the grade.
- Is UHMW-PE food safe?
- Certain grades are manufactured to meet FDA food-contact requirements. Confirm the specific grade and application with our team before specification.
- What's the difference between UHMW-PE and HDPE?
- UHMW-PE has significantly higher molecular weight, giving it superior impact and abrasion resistance compared to standard HDPE, though HDPE is more cost-effective for lower-wear applications.
- Maximum operating temperature?
- Continuous service up to approximately 80 °C (176 °F); higher briefly, but sustained heat above this degrades performance.
Next step
Confirm a UHMW-PE grade for your application
Send the contact status, service temperature, chemical exposure and load duty. We respond with the qualifying grades, the documentation available for each and the current stock position.