Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber UHMWPE

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber UHMWPE

 

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE) is a fiber spun from polyethylene with a relative molecular mass of 1 million to 5 million. It is currently the strongest and lightest fiber in the world. It is 15 times stronger than steel wire. Very light, 40% lighter than materials like aramid.

In terms of national defense equipment, due to the fiber's good impact resistance and greater energy absorption, it can be made into military protective clothing, helmets, bulletproof materials, such as armored protective panels for helicopters, tanks and ships, radar, etc. Protective shells, missile covers, bulletproof vests, stab-proof vests, shields, parachutes, etc. Among them, the application of bulletproof vests is the most eye-catching.

It has the advantage of being light and soft, and has now become the main fiber occupying the US bulletproof vest market. In addition, the specific impact load value U/p of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber composite material is 10 times that of steel, and more than 2 times that of glass fiber and aramid. Bulletproof and anti-riot helmets made of fiber-reinforced resin composites abroad have become substitutes for steel helmets and aramid reinforced composite helmets.

Overview of UHMWPE fiber in China: China is a big country in chemical fiber. In 2007, chemical fiber production accounted for 54% of the world's. Its industrial foundation is relatively solid, but the development of high-performance fibers is relatively lagging behind. Since my country began to study UHMWPE fibers in 1985, Donghua University (formerly China Textile University) and Yancheng Institute of Polymer Materials Engineering and Technology have joined the research and development ranks one after another, and have made a series of major theoretical breakthroughs. In 1999, it broke through the key production technology. It has become the fourth country to master the production and application technology of this fiber after the Netherlands, Japan and the United States.

Trends: From ropes, mooring lines and rope nets, to life protection applications, high-performance textiles, composites and laminates, the range of applications is extremely wide. In the next 5 years and 10 years, the annual demand for UHMWPE in the world will be 60,000 tons and 100,000 tons respectively.