UHMW Polyethylene
Generic / House Brand
✓ Food Safe
⬡ Chemical Resistant
Overview
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene — the slipperiest plastic commonly machined. Extremely low coefficient of friction, self-lubricating, and outstanding impact resistance. Used for wear strips, guide rails, cutting boards, and any application where parts slide against each other.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Flexibility
semi-flex
Layer Adhesion
fair
Enclosure
no
Heated Bed
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Lowest friction of any plastic
- Self-lubricating — no grease needed
- Outstanding impact resistance
- FDA compliant grades available
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Machines cleanly
Cons
- Very difficult to bond or glue
- Thermal expansion high — tight tolerances challenging
- Cannot be electroplated or painted easily
- Slippery to clamp during machining
- Softens at relatively low temp
Best For
- Wear strips|Slide bearings|Conveyor guides|Cutting boards|Boat trailer rollers|Hopper liners
Avoid For
- High-temperature applications|Precision dimensional parts|Parts requiring bonding
Storage
Store off ground. No special requirements. Cut edges can be left as-machined.
Brands
McMaster-Carr UHMWCope PlasticsCurbell PlasticsAmazon Basics