Printed from Kezuriba (kezuriba.net/en/materials/uhmw-pe/)
PE-UHMW
ISO N (non-ferrous)Some makers: ISO O (other (outside the six ISO groups))Tool makers differ on the ISO workpiece group: MAPAL (machining group N4-1 "thermoplastics" under N of ISO 513. This resin is not named specifically): N[5]; Sandvik Coromant: O (Thermoplastics and thermosets are grouped under O (Other, outside ISO))[6]. Choose insert grades and data according to the maker of the tool you use.
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (a crystalline general-purpose resin with very high molecular weight and high resistance to wear and impact). ISO 21304-1 defines PE-UHMW as having an MFR of less than 0.1 g/10 min at 190℃ and 21.6 kg. Standard: ISO 21304-1:2019 (formerly ISO 11542-1), ASTM D4020.
📄Related standards (ISO, ASTM, JIS)
Standards that define the material or stock shapes. Standard texts are paid, so only titles and scopes checked on public pages are shown.
| Spec | Scope | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 21304-1:2019 | Plastics — Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) moulding and extrusion materials — Part 1: Designation system and basis for specificationsStandard for designating PE-UHMW materials. The former ISO 11542-1:2001 has been withdrawn | Agrees in 2+ sources[1][2] |
| ISO 21304-2:2021 | Plastics — Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) moulding and extrusion materials — Part 2: Preparation of test specimens and determination of propertiesHow to prepare test specimens and measure properties | Agrees in 2+ sources[11] |
| ASTM D4020 | Standard Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion MaterialsIdentification of unmodified homopolymer UHMW-PE raw material (powder and granules). It does not provide design data | Agrees in 2+ sources[3] |
All ASTM standards on Kezuriba: ASTM standards quick reference.
📋Typical properties
Plastic properties vary with maker, grade and processing. These are makers’ published typical values, not guaranteed values. For design, check the data sheet of the grade you use.
| Property | Value | Test method | Source of value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (yield) | 19 MPa | ISO 527-1/-2 (DIN EN ISO 527-1) | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000 Virgin UHMW-PE, Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural) Agrees in 2+ sources[4][7] |
| Tensile strength (yield, ASTM) | 3100 psi | ASTM D638 (73°F) | Typical value (Röchling Polystone M natural, ASTM version). About 21 MPa One source / reference[8] |
| Tensile modulus | 750 MPa | ISO 527-1/-2 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000) One source / reference[4] |
| Tensile modulus | 700 MPa | DIN EN ISO 527-1 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural) One source / reference[7] |
| Flexural modulus | 87 ksi | ASTM D790 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, ASTM column). About 600 MPa. The ISO 178 column is blank One source / reference[4] |
| Flexural strength (ASTM) | 3500 psi | ASTM D790 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, Röchling Polystone M natural). The ISO 178 value for TIVAR is 17 MPa Agrees in 2+ sources[4][8] |
| Durometer hardness | 60 Shore D | ISO 868 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural) Agrees in 2+ sources[4][7] |
| Durometer hardness (ASTM) | 66 Shore D | ASTM D2240 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, ASTM column) One source / reference[4] |
| Durometer hardness (ASTM) | 62–66 Shore D | ASTM D2240 | Typical value (Röchling Polystone M natural, ASTM version) One source / reference[8] |
| Deflection temperature under load (1.8 MPa) | 42 ℃ | ISO 75-1/-2 Method A | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000). The ASTM D648 column of the same source is 116°F One source / reference[4] |
| Deflection temperature under load (264 psi) | 108 °F | ASTM D648 | Typical value (Röchling Polystone M natural, ASTM version). About 42℃ One source / reference[8] |
| Continuous use temperature (guideline) | 80 ℃ | MCG: 20,000 h in air (temperature at which tensile strength falls to about 50%) / Ensinger: upper limit of the service temperature range | Guideline (MCG TIVAR 1000; Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural: -260 to +80℃). The maximum service temperature (in air) of the Röchling ASTM version is 180°F Agrees in 2+ sources[4][7] |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | 18 ×10⁻⁵/K | DIN EN ISO 11359-1;2 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural) One source / reference[7] |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | 200 µm/(m·K) | 23–100°C (test method not stated) | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000). Equivalent to 20×10⁻⁵/K One source / reference[4] |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion (ASTM) | 110 µin/(in·°F) | ASTM E831 (TMA, -40–150℃, MCG) / ASTM D696 (Röchling, 1.1×10⁻⁴ in/in/°F) | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, Röchling Polystone M natural) Agrees in 2+ sources[4][8] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 0.01 % | DIN EN ISO 62 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural). The Röchling ASTM version is <0.01% (ASTM D570) One source / reference[7][8] |
| Water absorption (23°C water, 24 h) | 0.1 % | ISO 62 | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000). Saturation is also 0.1% One source / reference[4] |
| Dielectric breakdown strength | 45 kV/mm | IEC 60243-1 (MCG) / ASTM D149 (Röchling) | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000, Röchling Polystone M natural) Agrees in 2+ sources[4][8] |
| Dielectric breakdown strength | 44 kV/mm | IEC 60243-1 | Typical value (Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural) One source / reference[7] |
| Melting point | 135 ℃ | ISO 11357-1/-3 (DSC, 10℃/min) | Typical value (MCG TIVAR 1000). The Röchling ASTM version is 266–275°F (ASTM D3418) One source / reference[4][8] |
⚖Density
0.93 g/cm³
MCG TIVAR 1000 (ISO 1183-1), Ensinger TECAFINE PE1000 natural, Röchling Polystone M natural (ASTM D792)
Calculate weight in PE-UHMW →🏷Common trade names (makers)
Plastics are often called by a maker’s product name. Names are trademarks of their owners.
- TIVAR 1000 (Mitsubishi Chemical Group (formerly Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials))The datasheet states "TIVAR is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials"[4]
- Polystone M (PE 1000) (Röchling)Written as Polystone®[12]
- TECAFINE PE1000 (Ensinger)Ensinger profile stock[7]
- HI-ZEX MILLION (Mitsui Chemicals)Raw resin. Mitsui Chemicals' page writes it as HI-ZEX MILLION™[13]
- Newlight (Sakushin Kogyo (Mitsui Chemicals Group))Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene molded products. Mitsui Chemicals' news release writes it as Newlight®. The physical properties table was not obtained because Sakushin Kogyo's site could not be reached[14]
🔧Machinability notes (as stated in the sources)
- MCG (machining guide): thermal conductivity is poor and the melting point is low, so the key is not to let heat build up and to clear chips away (preventing deformation, stress and melting). For soft materials such as UHMW-PE, maximize feed and speed to keep chips away from the tool and prevent adhesion and chip wrapping. Use tools with large clearance, end mills with 2–3 flutes and a high helix, and air blast. HSS is acceptable, but carbide is more rigid. Coolant is usually unnecessary except for drilling and parting off[9]
- MCG machining conditions (TIVAR UHMW-PE, HSS or carbide): Turning: clearance angle 5–15°, rake angle 0–10°, feed 0.05–0.5 mm/rev, 200–500 m/min. Milling: clearance angle 5–15°, rake angle 0–15°, feed ≤0.5 mm/tooth, 200–500 m/min. Drilling: clearance angle 5–10°, rake angle 3–5°, point angle 90–120°, feed 0.1–0.3 mm/rev, 50–100 m/min. Circular saw: clearance angle 10–15°, rake angle 0–15°, tooth pitch 8–45 mm, 1,000–3,000 m/min; band saw: clearance angle 25–40°, rake angle 0–8°, tooth pitch 4–10 mm, 50–500 m/min[9]
- Annealing: MCG recommends for PE-(U)HMW 130℃, heating rate 10–20℃/h, hold 10 min/mm, cooling 5–10℃/h (air, nitrogen or oil). For high-precision parts: rough machining, then annealing, then light finish cutting. Restrain the shape with fixtures during annealing and keep the furnace temperature within ±3℃[9]
- Röchling (general precautions for machining profile stock): plastics conduct heat poorly, and if the temperature rises too high the surface softens and becomes sticky, and the material may be damaged. Good chip evacuation is the best cooling. Dimensional stability presupposes low-stress stock, and the company's profile stock is annealed. For high-precision parts with a large amount of material removal, intermediate annealing before the final operation may be needed[10]
📚Sources
Primary sources (public documents from makers, industry associations and standards bodies), numbered where each value is cited. Many are in Japanese.
- iso.org https://www.iso.org/standard/70506.html
- iso.org https://www.iso.org/standard/30102.html
- astm.org https://www.astm.org/Standards/D4020.htm
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/datasheets/PE-TIVAR%C2%AE%201000%20UHMW-PE%20natural_en_US.pdf
- mapal.com https://mapal.com/medias/sys_master/root/hea/hd5/10787307716638/MMG-2025__EN/MMG-2025-EN.p…
- sandvik.coromant.com https://www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-us/knowledge/materials/workpiece-materials
- ensingerplastics.com https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en-gb/shapes/products/polyethylene-tecafine-pe-1000-natur…
- roechling.com https://www.roechling.com/us/industrial/materials/thermoplastics/industrial-plastics/pe/pe…
- mcam.com https://www.mcam.com/mam/41701/MCG-Machinist-Toolkit-A4-EU-metric.pdf
- roechling.com https://www.roechling.com/fileadmin/downloads/Roechling_Industrial/Brochures/EN/Lieferprog…
- iso.org https://www.iso.org/standard/77189.html
- roechling.com https://www.roechling.com/industrial/materials/thermoplastics/industrial-plastics/pe/pe-uh…
- jp.mitsuichemicals.com https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/en/special/uhmw-pe/
- jp.mitsuichemicals.com https://jp.mitsuichemicals.com/jp/release/2023/2023_0824/index.htm
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