Discover the superior performance of Braskem America’s UTEC3040, a leading Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) resin. UTEC3040's advanced molecular structure can provide unmatched properties, including superior abrasion resistance, outstanding impact strength, and a low coefficient of friction, making it an ideal self-lubricating material for various industrial applications.


Key Features of Products Produced with UTEC3040 Resin:

  • Ultra High Molecular Weight: With a molecular weight of 3 × 106 g/mol, products produced from UTEC3040 resin are incredibly strong and durable.
  • Excellent Impact Strength: Products made of UTEC3040 resin can absorb and withstand heavy impacts, making them perfect for demanding applications, especially in low-temperature settings. This resin provides superior impact strength vs. higher molecular weight resins.
  • High Abrasion Resistance: Products using UTEC3040 resin are built to last in tough environments, resisting wear and tear exceptionally well.
  • Low Coefficient of Friction: This self-lubricating material reduces friction in products, enabling smoother operation with less maintenance.
  • Chemical Resistance: UTEC3040 stands up to a wide range of chemicals, ensuring long-term product performance.
  • Lightweight and Strong: Products using UTEC3040 resin combine lightweight convenience with high strength.

  • Applications:

    UTEC3040 resin is ideal for products spanning a variety of industrial applications, including:

  • Material Handling: Excellent for liners, chutes, and other wear-prone surfaces, such as conveyor belts and guide rails.
  • Agriculture: Ideal for equipment, machinery, and silos that demand high impact, abrasion resistance, and a low coefficient of friction.
  • Food Processing: Safe for use in food-contact applications.
  • Chemical Processing: Suitable for parts exposed to harsh chemicals.
  • Industrial and Heavy Equipment: Suitable for parts exposed to harsh conditions and heavy use.
  • Wear Parts: Ideal for high-wear components like liners and wear strips.
  • Recreation and Winter & Water Sports: Great for products that benefit from its self-lubricating properties.
  • Automotive and Transportation: Ideal for components that require high impact, wear resistance, or noise reduction.
  • Oil and Gas: Perfect for applications needing chemical resistance and durability.
  • Average Molecular Weight: 3,000,000.0 g/mol

    Average Particle Size: 225.0 microns

    Processing Methods: Compression Molding, Ram Extrusion

    Polymer Name: Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)

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    Product Highlights

    Impact Strength

    UTEC is the best solution compared to other materials because of its remarkable impact strength.

    Coefficient of Friction

    UTEC is an excellent material for sliding applications where low coefficient of friction properties are required, working as a self-lubricating material.

    Chemical Resistance

    UTEC is extremely resistant to a wide variety of substances. The material is almost totally inert; therefore, it can be used in the most corrosive or aggressive environments at moderate temperatures. Even at high temperatures, UTEC is resistant to several solvents, except aromatic, halogenated hydrocarbons and strong oxidizing materials, such as nitric acid.

    Compatibility tests between a product sample and the chemical environment are strongly recommended to verify satisfactory part performance, at the same conditions, for a period of time equal to the life time expected for each new application. Even substances classified with high attack or absorption characteristics show good practical results.

    Abrasion Wear Resistance

    Another outstanding UTEC property is the abrasion wear resistance. This makes UTEC suitable for replacing metals in applications that require high abrasion resistance while providing light-weighting benefits.

    Processing

    It is not possible to process UTEC through conventional extrusion methods or injection or blow molding, because this material does not flow even at temperatures above its melting point. UTEC requires special processing techniques, such as RAM extrusion and compression molding. These processes are generally used to produce semi-finished parts such as rods and sheets. UTEC can be sintered into porous parts (filters) and calendered into porous sheets. It can also be gel processed into fibers or for a variety of battery separator applications.

    Those semi-finished parts can then be machined into parts for a wide range of applications. It is possible to use the same machining techniques as those used for wood or metal, such as sawing, milling, planing, drilling and turning. Other conversion processesmay also be used.

    Molecular Structure

    The UTEC molecular structure has direct impact on its physical and thermal properties as well as processing performance. There are some characterization methods which can be used to measure the molecular weight of polymers. In the case of UHMWPE resins, the viscosity of polymer diluted solutions is widely used for that purpose.

    Applications & Uses

    Properties

    Physical Form
    Soluble In
    Physical Properties
    ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
    Average Molecular Weight3.0x106g/molInternal Method
    Average Particle Size (Dp50)190μmASTM D 1921
    Bulk Density0.45g/cm³ASTM D 1895
    Density0.925g/cm³ASTM D 792
    Intrinsic Viscosity14dL/gASTM D 4020
    Mechanical Properties
    ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
    Charpy Impact Strengthmin. 180kJ/m²ISO 11542-2
    Hardness (15 sec)57Shore DASTM D 2240 ISO 868
    Tensile Strength at Breakmin. 30MPaISO 527
    Tensile Strength at Yield17MPaISO 527
    Ultimate Elongationmin. 350 (min. 400)--
    Thermal Properties
    ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
    Melting Point133°CASTM D 3418
    Electrical Properties
    ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
    Surface Resistivitymin. 10^12ohmASTM D 257
    Volume Resistivitymin. 10^14Ω·cmASTM D 257

    Regulatory & Compliance