UHMW-PE:Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Yarn
(2004 Statistics Report).



Application prospects:
1) National defense
Because the fiber has good impact resistance and high specific energy absorption, it can be made into protective clothing, helmets, and bulletproof materials in the military, such as armored shields for helicopters, tanks, and ships, protective shell covers for radars, and missile covers. , bulletproof vests, stab-proof vests, shields, etc. Among them, the application of bulletproof vests is the most eye-catching. It has the advantage of being lightweight and has better bulletproof effect than aramid. It has now become the main fiber occupying the US bulletproof vest market. In addition, the specific impact load value U/p of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber composite materials is 10 times that of steel and more than twice that of glass fiber and aramid. Bulletproof and anti-riot helmets made of this fiber-reinforced resin composite material abroad have become a substitute for steel helmets and aramid-reinforced composite helmets.
2) Aviation:
In aerospace engineering, due to its light weight, high strength and good impact resistance, the fiber composite material is suitable for wingtip structures of various aircraft, spacecraft structures and buoy aircraft. The fiber can also be used as a deceleration parachute for space shuttle landings and as a rope for suspending heavy objects on aircraft, replacing traditional steel cables and synthetic fiber ropes. Its development is extremely rapid.
3) Civil use:
(1) Applications in ropes and cables: Ropes, cables, sails and fishing gear made of this fiber are suitable for marine engineering and are the original use of this fiber. It is widely used in negative-load ropes, heavy-duty ropes, rescue ropes, towing ropes, sailing ropes and fishing lines. The breaking length of a rope made of this fiber under its own weight is 8 times that of a steel rope and 2 times that of aramid. This rope is used as a fixed anchor rope for supertankers, marine operating platforms, lighthouses, etc. It solves the problem of rust encountered in the past when using steel cables and corrosion, hydrolysis, ultraviolet degradation, etc. caused by nylon and polyester cables. , the problem of frequent replacement.
(2) Sports equipment: Sports equipment has been made into helmets, skis, sailboards, fishing rods, rackets and bicycles, gliding boards, ultra-lightweight aircraft parts, etc., and their performance is better than traditional materials.
(3) Used as biomaterials: This fiber-reinforced composite material is used in dental tray materials, medical implants, plastic sutures, etc. It has good biocompatibility and durability, and has high stability and will not Causes allergies and has been used clinically. It is also used in medical gloves and other medical measures.
(4) In industry, the fiber and its composite materials can be used as pressure-resistant containers, conveyor belts, filter materials, automobile buffer boards, etc.; in construction, it can be used as walls, partition structures, etc., and it can be used as reinforced cement composite materials. Improve the toughness of cement and improve its impact resistance.