HPPE (high-performance polyethylene)
Also known as: UHMWPE, Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, HMPE
Brand-neutral collective term for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres (UHMWPE) with extreme tensile and cut resistance; best-known trade names are Dyneema and Spectra.
Description
HPPE (High Performance Polyethylene) is the brand-neutral collective name for fibres of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE / UHMPE / HMPE) with molecular weights of 2–6 million g/mol. Manufacture uses the gel-spinning process: highly concentrated polymer solution is extruded through spinnerets, precipitated in a bath and drawn up to twenty times – the molecular chains align almost fully parallel.
The fibre reaches tensile strengths of up to 2.4 GPa (about 8× the specific strength of steel), density only 0.97 g/cm³ (floats on water). Additional properties: very low elongation (3–4 %), high UV resistance, chemically inert, extreme cut resistance, but sensitive to prolonged heat above 80 °C.
- Trade names: Dyneema (Avient/DSM, NL), Spectra (Honeywell, USA), Endumax (Teijin, tape form)
- Uses: cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 level D–F), ballistic protection, sailing lines, climbing ropes, fishing line, protective wear, backpack reinforcements
- Processing: does not melt but degrades under sustained heat; can be sewn; hard to glue (non-polar surface)
Properties
| Polymer | Ultra-high MW polyethylene |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 2-6 million g/mol |
| Tensile strength | up to 2.4 GPa |
| Density | 0.97 g/cm3 (floats) |
| Manufacture | Gel spinning |
| Trade names | Dyneema, Spectra, Endumax |
| Temperature limit | ca. 80 °C continuous |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: UHMWPE Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene
