UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) plastic is a versatile material that lends itself to the production of machined plastic parts. UHMW machined plastic parts have high tensile strength as well as excellent resistance to abrasion and impacts. This makes UHMW material a great choice for machined plastic parts that can be used in a diverse spectrum of applications, including those in bulk material handling, food processing, mining and minerals processing, manufacturing equipment and machinery, civil engineering and earthmoving equipment, and automotive, transportation and marine. UHMW plastic is also known by the trade name TIVAR®.
About UHMW
UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) plastic has one of the highest impact strengths of any thermoplastic and possesses excellent abrasion resistance and tensile strength. In some applications, UHMW material will outwear carbon steel by a factor of ten-to-one. The material also resists stressing and cracking and is self-lubricating, meaning that it has a low coefficient of friction. This property makes it an excellent choice for parts that will be used in sliding applications, where overcoming frictional forces is important.
UHMW plastic is also highly resistant to most alkalis and acids, organic solvents, degreasing agents, as well as electrolytic attack. Parts produced from UHMW plastic will service wet and dry environments, high operational temperatures, and possess excellent dielectric properties.
Various grades and colours of UHMW plastic are available. For food-safe applications, UHMW grades are available which meet FDA guidelines for use in applications in the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and animal feed industries. Anti-static grades (AS/UHMW) are also available for the production of parts which must not accumulate any electrical charges.
UHMW machined plastic parts from CRG
UHMW plastic material is easily machined and converted into finished parts. Parts which CRG produces from UHMW plastic service both OEM and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) applications. Examples of parts which CRG can produce from UHMW plastic include the following:
Wear parts
Bearing pads and plates
Chain guides, guide rails and channels
Skirting and conveyor parts, including belt scrapers
Bushings
Bearings
Bumpers
Liners for hoppers, chutes and truck beds
Gears, sprockets and starwheels
Rings, washers, spacers and cams
Plugs and nozzles
Cutting surfaces
CRG converts quality UHMW plastic sheet into finished parts within our production facility registered to ISO 9001:2015. The latest CNC production equipment is used, ensuring superior part finish with no burrs, as well as tight conformity to specifications and tolerances. Throughout our production process, parts are subjected to stringent quality control, and a final inspection is carried out on all orders before they are shipped.
CRG’s reputation for industry-leading responsiveness is unsurpassed and we specialize in the fast turnaround of both small- and large-run orders. Because there are a wide variety of UHMW grades available in the marketplace, CRG can provide guidance on the best grade for your part and application. Our team can support you across all aspects of the product realization process, from design to prototyping through to final part production.
If you want to learn more about the UHMW machined plastic parts we can supply, please contact our sales department for assistance at crg@canadarubbergroup.com.