GUR UHMW-PE

ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE

POLYETHYLENE POWDER
 Table of Contents

Introduction to GUR® UHMW-PE 3

Pioneering Technology Since 1955 4
Global Presence 6
Unique Properties 7
Application Overview 10
Semi Finished Goods 12
Lead-Acid Battery Separators 13
Microporous Membranes for Energy Storage 14
Pioneers in Porous Technology 16
Carbon Blocks for Water Filtration 18
Functional Additives 20
Hydrophillic 21
Fibers 22
Tapes 23
Orthopedic Implants 24
Medical and Pharmaceutical Filtration 26
Melt Processable Grades 27
Pioneers in Technology and Innovation 28
Typical Physical Properties & Test Methods 30
Properties 32
Product Stewardship and Quality 34

Front cover: GUR® UHMW-PE can be used for dock fenders or for ship bodies.

2
Introduction to GUR® UHMW-PE
Ultra High Performance
Polyethylene Powder

GUR® UHMW-PE Ultra High Performance Polyethylene Powder

W
 elcome to the world of GUR® UHMW-PE – an ultra high performance polyethylene powder encompassing
both ultra high and very high molecular weight polyethylene

F
 irst launched in 1955 in Oberhausen (Germany), GUR® UHMW-PE has become synonymous with high
quality, performance and innovation representing a unique thermoplastic and engineering material in our
portfolio

F
 rom the early 1950s to the present day, Celanese has been and continues to be a leading pioneer in
UHMW-PE, having developed a broad range of high performance powders in a wide array of applications

W
 e are the only truly global supplier of UHMW-PE serving our customers around the world
from manufacturing facilities in Europe, North America and Asia

Global Partner Pioneering Innovation

Global manufacturing presence Continued tradition of innovation
to supply global leveraging over 60 years of
brand experience knowledge and know-how

GUR® UHMW-PE
The pioneering name
to trust since 1955

Broad Product Portfolio Quality and Reliability

Offering full spectrum of choice State of the art manufacturing
including both medical delivering the highest quality
and food grade approvals and reliability every time

3
GUR® UHMW-PE
Pioneering Technology
Since 1955

GUR® UHMW-PE was first officially introduced to Since its inception, GUR® UHMW-PE has grown
the world at the 1955 K-fair (International Plastics into the leading UHMW-PE product used in a broad
Show) in Düsseldorf, Germany. range of applications.
The catalyst technology enabling GUR® UHMW-PE Our first production plant in Oberhausen proudly
was discovered by Dr. Karl Ziegler in 1953 at his lab continues to supply high quality products and
in Mülheim, Germany, which is very close to the first delivering pioneering innovations to industry.
production facility in Oberhausen.

Factory of Ruhrchemie; Photography Emil Schütte, 1954; © LVR-Industriemuseum

4
A short history of GUR® UHMW-PE

1953 Catalyst discovered by Karl Ziegler (Nobel prize for Chemistry in 1963)

1955 First pilot plant at Oberhausen

1955 GUR® UHMW-PE introduced at K-Fair

1960s First manufacturing unit and development of processing technologies and

applications

1981 Process modernization with new catalyst systems

1982 3rd line built in Oberhausen

1983 Opening of Bayport, Texas plant

1988 4th line built in Oberhausen Karl Waldemar Ziegler

1898-1973
1992 European ISO 9001 certification

1996 Expansion of 4th line in Oberhausen

1998 Global ISO 9001 certification

2002 Opening of Bishop, Texas plant

2004 Oberhausen capacity expansion

2008 Opening of Nanjing, China plant

First applications in the textile industry: e.g. GUR® UHMW-PE

replacing wood in textile shuttle

5
GUR® UHMW-PE
Global Presence

Oberhausen, Germany

Nanjing, China

Bishop, Texas, USA

GUR® UHMW-PE Production Plants

Sales Offices

Since the invention of GUR® UHMW-PE, Celanese Oberhausen, Germany

has continued to invest in capacity and technology The Oberhausen site is the original home of GUR®
to meet the growing needs of our customers. Our UHMW-PE, where production first started in 1960.
broad manufacturing footprint is unique in the About 80 employees at this site are involved in
industry, enabling us to meet the global needs of production, research, application development and
our customers. Our dedicated facilities ensure quality assurance.
consistent product quality and security of supply.
Bishop, Texas
The facility was built in 2002, replacing the first GUR®
UHMW-PE plant in the US located in Bayport, Texas

Nanjing, China
The latest GUR® UHMW-PE facility was built in the
Celanese chemical complex in Nanjing, China to
better serve our customers in Asia.

6
GUR® UHMW-PE
Unique Properties

Processing technologies

Standard processing technologies: pressure sintering, 200° C 20° C

ram extrusion, porous sintering (without pressure). Other
processing options (depending on grade): extrusion,
membrane extrusion, gel spinning, injection molding.

Properties
Due to very long molecular chains, GUR® UHMW-PE shows
 Exceptional notched impact strength extremely high melt viscosity; most grades show no melt flow
at all and retain their shape in molten state
 Very good sliding properties

 Very low wear GUR® UHMW-PE is a linear polyethylene and

differentiated from other PE standard grades by a
 High chemical resistance
very high degree of polymerization. The molecular
 Very good resistance to stress cracking weight (= molar mass) determined by viscosimetry
of our standard grades ranges from 3.9 to 10.5
 Broad range of application fields due to temperature
million g/mole.
resistance ranging from -200 to +90 °C
The extreme molar mass is responsible for the fact
that the melted product does not flow (MFR = 0).
Grades
Therefore, special processing methods like pressure
 Standard grades, partially modified grades and sintering and ram extrusion are required.
specialty grades for pressure sintering, ram extrusion, Given its unique low melt flow properties, GUR®
and porous products
UHMW-PE is not compounded into a pellet like most
 Premium grades for orthopedic implants other thermoplastics but is sold as a powder.
 Special materials for melt processing During the manufacturing process, GUR® UHMW-PE
 Functional grades for heat conductance, antistatic
powder can be produced with different molecular
properties, and as additives (e.g., micropowders) weights, bulk densities, average particle size and
particle size distribution.
The different grades of GUR® UHMW-PE include
different combinations of these variables which
impart different performance characteristics of
the material. With a broad range of grades, GUR®
UHMW-PE powders are well-suited to meet a wide
range of needs.

GUR® UHMW-PE in comparison with other polyethylenes.

7
GUR® UHMW-PE
Unique Properties

Impact strength Wear resistance at low temperatures

Dock fenders made from GUR® UHMW-PE. Polar sledge, sliding surface made of GUR® UHMW-PE

IMPACT STRENGTH TEMPERATURE RANGE

250 300
250
200 200
150
150 100
50
100 0
-50
50 -100
-150
0 -200
GUR® GUR®
UHMW-PE PP POM PTFE PA 6.6 UHMW-PE PP POM PTFE PA 6.6

Results of modified „double notched“ Charpy impact test Typical operating temperature ranges for a selection of
showing amount of energy absorbed by a material at the different materials.
break point.

One of the most unique attributes of GUR® UHMW- GUR® UHMW-PE has a relatively broad operating
PE is its extremely high impact strength, which is temperature range especially in cold temperatures.
retained even at very low temperatures. The impact For example, GUR® UHMW-PE retains its wear
strength is so high, in fact, that under the standard resistance performance even at the temperature
notched impact test (ISO 179) GUR® UHMW-PE does of liquid helium at -289 °C. While GUR® UHMW-PE
not break. Therefore, a special “double-notched” does not melt even at extremely high temperatures,
impact test is used. we recommend not to exceed a constant operating
temperature of 80 °C.
The results above clearly demonstrate the extreme
outperformance of GUR® UHMW-PE relative to
other polymers.

8
 Abrasion resistance Coefficient of friction

Test specimens of Sand-Slurry Test: GUR® UHMW-PE (on the Belt Guide, typical application for GUR® UHMW-PE.
right) shows the lowest abrasion values, compared to HDPE
(left) and steel (middle).

ABRASION RESISTANCE COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION

2000 0,5
1800
1600 0,4
1400
1200 0,3
1000
800 0,2
600
400 0,1
200
0 0
PMMA PVC POM PP PTFE PE-HD PA Steel GUR® GUR® PP PU PTFE PA
UHMW-PE UHMW-PE

Material loss performance relative to GUR® UHMW-PE GUR® UHMW-PE is an excellent material for sliding
(=100) for different materials after a defined number of applications, posessing self-lubricating properties,
rotations in a sand-water mixture. particularly in dry sliding movement against metal surfaces.

Another truly unique property of GUR® UHMW-PE GUR® UHMW-PE is also an excellent material for
is its extreme abrasion resistance which can be, as sliding applications. GUR® UHMW-PE possesses
shown in chart above, almost twice as good as steel. self-lubricating properties which allow it to perform
This makes GUR® UHMW-PE the material of choice very well in “dry sliding” situations such as against
in applications where wear is extremely high and metal surfaces like steel, brass or copper.
customers are looking for a material to extend the
Abrasion resistance and natural lubricity make
lifetime of critical parts.
GUR® UHMW-PE the perfect material for bushings
which are liners in cyclinders with rotating shafts.
In addition to minimizing friction, GUR® UHMW-PE is
also tolerates foreign particles (e.g., dust, sand, etc.)
which can cause misalignment.

9
GUR® UHMW-PE
Application Overview

As can be seen from the limited selection here,

the unique properties and form flexibility of GUR®
UHMW-PE makes it the material of choice for a very
broad range of applications.
From medical, to high tech or food industries, GUR®
UHMW-PE offers its unique set of properties to
address different application needs. From chemical
resistance to surface slip properties or a pressed
plate, membrane or fiber, GUR® UHMW-PE has
proven itself as a truly unique and adaptable material. Semi-finished products, plates and profiles

 Components that are exposed to wear, e.g. castors,

cog wheels, chain guides, bearing bushings, chain
tensioners.

 Linings for handling of bulk goods, e.g. conveying

troughs, slides, wagons, bunkers.

 Pumps and valves for chemically demanding media.

 GUR® UHMW-PE components are also applied in the

fields of sound and shock absorption.

Lead-acid battery separators Microporous membranes

 GUR® UHMW-PE is used as a binder for separators in  GUR® UHMW-PE microporous membranes have
lead-acid batteries, for automotive starter batteries. multiple applications as separators in lithium ion
batteries, ultracapacitors and fuel cells.
 The separator prevents short circuits between the
anode and cathode.  Also used as breathable membrane in outdoor
garments, as air-coalescing & liquid filters, and as
membrane in transdermal drug delivery patches.

10
Filtration Functional additives

 Porous parts which are manufactured from GUR®  In paints and coatings GUR® UHMW-PE microporous
UHMW-PE powders are used for filtering liquids, par- modify the surface texture
ticulates and gases.
 GUR® UHMW-PE is used in rubber as a modifier in
 Sintering without pressure also enables high-strength tires and belts
dust filters for very diverse separation tasks.
 Polishing media
 GUR® UHMW-PE constitutes the matrix in activated
carbon filters used in water treatment.

Fibers Medical engineering

 Gel spinning technology enables manufacturing of ex-  Celanese‘s special GUR® UHMW-PE medical grades
tremely high-strength and stretch-resistant filament are used as bearing partners in endoprostheses (arti-
yarn, e.g. for cut-resistant gloves. ficial joints).

 GUR® UHMW-PE filaments are also used to manu-  Ortheses, either for a temporary immobilization of
facture fabrics to absorb the impact of projectiles, for selected parts of the body (e.g. ankles) or to be worn
example, bullet-proof vests. as a corset (trunk orthesis).

 GUR® UHMW-PE-based fibers have numerous appli-  Special medical filters.

cation-specific advantages in maritime and other civil
fields, e.g. plaited fishing lines and fishing nets, as
well as mooring ropes.

11
GUR® UHMW-PE
Semi Finished Goods

Pumps and shut-off valves are used used in

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE semi-finished goods
chemical plants, waste incineration and wastewater
 Wear, impact and chemical resistant treatment that operate in harsh environments,
where the components come under attack from
Applications/properties
aggressive acids, alkalis and gases as well as
 Truck linings D
 ock fenders abrasive solids. The tough qualities of GUR® UHMW-
PE ensure that reliability and service endurance are
 Chain guides S
 ki soles
not compromised.
 Pump valves
In addition, the good slip properties of GUR® UHMW-
PE make for smooth-running pump impellers.
Applications/properties
The good slip properties of GUR® UHMW-PE are
GUR UHMW-PE is used in packaging and filling
®
also the reason why this material is widely used in
plants, food industry, transport, conveying and linings for conveyor troughs, silos and truck bodies.
storage technology, assembly systems and the The rare combination of low friction coefficient with
printing and textile industries. GUR® UHMW-PE is in exceptional wear resistance is the key material
profiles for chain/belt drives, curved guides, chain selection factor. GUR® UHMW-PE lining sheets
and belt deflecting and tensioning devices, bearing ensure rapid loading and discharging of bulk
bushings, rail track disks -and impact-absorbing products.
elements can provide a trouble-free operation with
Since GUR® UHMW-PE can also be antistatic-
low maintenance.
modified, the risk of explosions due to dusty
Sliding surfaces made from sintered GUR® UHMW- environments (e. g., mining and coal preparation)
PE are used worldwide for Alpine and cross- can be minimized.
country skis and snowboards, ice-skating rinks and
bowling alleys.

12
GUR® UHMW-PE
Lead-Acid Battery
Separators

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE in lead acid

battery separators

 GUR® UHMW-PE separators offer a cost-effective

performance

 GUR® UHMW-PE separators allow rapid fabrication of

a pocket

 Constant Quality

Structure of a lead acid car battery: multiple separator

Requirements
envelopes are stacked together
 Microporous

 No obstruction of ion flow at low temperature Lead-acid Batteries are used in today’s cars for
starting, lighting and ignition (SLI battery). Starting
 Avoidance of short circuit by metal particles or PbSO4 (or cranking) of a combustion engine requires large
growth bursts of energy.
 High puncture resistance Lead-acid batteries are able to deliver these high
currents and peaks and can be recharged for >1000
 Resistant to H2SO4 and oxidation cycles. The separator must ensure no short circuits
between anode and cathode inside the “flooded cell“
Applications
type battery (35% sulfuric acid and 65% water).
 Automotive GUR® UHMW-PE is used as binder in the separator.
 Industrial and recreational
The separator is made of GUR® UHMW-PE, silica,
antioxidant and oil in a gelation process. The blend
is extruded and the oil extracted afterwards.
An effective separator must possess a number
of mechanical properties; such as permeability,
porosity, pore size distribution, specific surface
area, mechanical design and strength, electrical
resistance, ionic conductivity, and chemical
compatibility with the electrolyte. In service, the
separator must have good resistance to acid and
oxidation. The area of the separator must be a little
larger than the area of the plates to prevent material
shorting between the plates. The separators
must remain stable over the battery‘s operating
temperature range.

13
GUR® UHMW-PE
Microporous Membranes for
energy storage

Microporous membranes are vital elements to

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE
both function and safety in the energy storage
 Wide range of products market in particular lithium ion batteries.
Lithium ion batteries are the primary technology
 Application & technical support
used for batteries in cell phones, smart phones,
 Constant quality tablets and computers. In addition to consumer
electronics, lithium ion battery technology is being
Applications used for stationary storage. For example, solar and
wind energy generators use lithium ion batteries
 Rechargeable hand-held devices as a means to store energy during peak times for
 Electronics use during off-peak hours. Finally, the recent rapid
growth in electric mobility (e.g. cars, buses, bikes,
 Automotive etc.) would not be possible without lithium ion
batteries for efficient and safe energy storage
Microporous membranes cover the nominal and delivery.
pore size range from 10 – 100 nm. Membranes
Microporous membranes made from
in this range using GUR® UHMW-PE are further
GUR® UHMW-PE separate the positive and negative
characterized by 40 to 60% void fraction or porosity
electrodes in these batteries allowing the flow of
and are typically between 5 and 30 µm thick. Base
lithium ions due to its porosity. Without this flow
weights of such membranes are low due to the
of ions, there would be no energy delivery to the
inherent specific gravity of the polymer and can
growing consumer electronics market.
range from 2 to 17 grams / square meter
The membranes also act as a fire and explosion
depending on the thickness and porosity.
hazard safety mechanism by separating the reactive
materials and closing the pores when the battery
reaches elevated temperatures.

Positive Cap Vent Plate

Current Interrupt Device

Positive Tab

Gasket

GUR® UHMW-PE
Separator

Isulator
Positve Electrode

Negative Electrode
Casing

Negative Tab

14
Celanese has been a trusted material supplier
into these end markets since the beginning and
continues to support the industry as performance
demands increase with expanding use in different Waterproof
applications. Our GUR® UHMW-PE portfolio covers
the entire spectrum of molecular weights, particle
size and morphology which offers a rich set of
options for manufacturers to choose from when
searching for the right material for their particular
process and performance targets. Breathable
In addition to unrivalled choice of materials,
Celanese UHMW-PE offers the best balance
between mechanical strength and porosity.
As seen in the graph at the bottom of this page, Breathable membrane fabric
membranes made with GUR® UHMW-PE offer
the best puncture strength versus membranes
of comparable permeability made from
competitive materials.
Celanese is well positioned to globally supply with
high performing materials as well as technical
know-how. Our Technology and Innovation team is
there to support you with material selection and
testing to help accelerate your efforts to keep pace
in this fast-paced and dynamic industry.

100%
Puncture strength normalized

93%
92%
by permeability

Celanese GUR 4018 Comp-A Comp-B

Balance between mechanical strength and permeability

15
GUR® UHMW-PE
Pioneers in Porous
Technology

Processing

Pressureless sintering of the powder can be achieved

in one process step. Alternatively, the starting material
is sintered into semi-finished products such as sheets,
films, pipes, and solid rods, and then fabricated into
final products in a second step.

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE

 Well controlled porosity and flow resistance

GUR® 2122 powder with a bulk density of >230 g/l prior
 Improved damping behavior to molding

 Excellent uniformity of raw material

 High consistency of powder properties and quality GUR® UHMW-PE high performance powder is
a versatile sintering material with universal
 Good compatibility with other filter media such as
activated carbon application. Under carefully controlled thermal
treatment and suitable processing technology,
 Good mechanical strength porous parts with exceptional properties can be
 Outstanding chemical resistance produced from this material.

 EUP, FDA, USDA and NSF (51 & 61) compliant grades GUR® UHMW-PE has an extremely high melt
viscosity due to its average molecular weight
Applications/Functionalities of up to 12 million g/mol. When heated above
 Filtration, separation its crystalline melting point of about 134°C, the
polymer changes into a viscoelastic melt. In this
 Fluidizing, venting, degassing, silencing process, the external form of the polymer particles
 Storage, wicking, support is substantially retained, and only the surface of the
individual polymer particles fuse at their contact
points forming a porous network.

16
 GUR® UHMW-PE powder with a bulk density of >400 g/l The same GUR® UHMW-PE powder after sintering.
prior to molding Particles retain their shape and morphology.

Processors can choose between powders with requirements. Despite their interconnected cell
different particle size, particle size distribution, structure, porous products made from GUR®
bulk density, particle surface, molecular weight and UHMW-PE high performance powder possess
powder morphology (spheroidal or flocculent). In surprisingly good mechanical properties
this way the porosity and geometry of the porous such as high strength and flexural resistance.
part can be tailored to suit specific application In combination with their excellent resistance to
most chemicals, all of these outstanding properties
make porous parts made from GUR® UHMW-PE
suitable for many demanding applications.
Some examples of GUR® UHMW-PE used in porous
applications include liquid and dust filtration,
silencers for sound damping and ink management
for writing instruments.

GUR® UHMW-PE porous parts act as silencers

e.g. for pneumatic systems (Festo AG & Co. KG)

Writing nibs for highlighter

made of porous GUR® UHMW-PE.

17
GUR® UHMW-PE
Carbon Blocks for
Water Filtration

Processing

GUR® UHMW-PE is blended with activated carbon (or

other active materials) and sintered into blocks either by
mold sintering or by extrusion.

Unique properties

Due to its high molecular weight, GUR® UHMW-PE

provides some unique properties for the manufacturing
of water filters.

 In molten state, material does not flow due to its high
viscosity but just softens

 Particles retain their shape and morphology and act

as a binder matrix
GUR® (left) vs. LDPE extruded activated carbon block
 The active carbon is immobilized, forming a solid
structure

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE CARBON SURFACE AREA LOSS DUE TO CLOGGING

35
Filtration efficiency is determined by the active surface
area of the carbon. A high surface area allows more 30
Loss in Surface Area (%)

harmful contaminants to be removed from the water 25

and bonded to the carbon. There are no channeling
20
effects in the active media as seen in loose packaging.
GUR® UHMW-PE outperforms other thermoplastic 15
materials such as HDPE and LDPE. 10

5
 Maintains high carbon surface area
0
 Ensures high utilization of carbon GUR® UHMW-PE Thermoplastic with Melt Flow

 Increases filtration efficiency and longer

component life

Applications

 Counter-top and under-the-counter carbon block filters

 Sports and drinking water bottles

 Faucet-mount filter for point-of-use filtration

18
Cleaner Water with GUR® UHMW-PE for Filters

According to the World Health Organization and

the United Nations, an average person needs 20
to 50 liters of clean water per day. One in 6 people
worldwide lack access to clean water, often resulting
in serious–even life-threatening–health issues. A
common solution to cleaning contaminated water is to
filter it at the point of use with active media like carbon.

Harmful substances – such as chlorine, lead,

mercury, cadmium, asbestos and volatile organic
chemicals – are then absorbed by the carbon.
The carbon can be granulated or bound with
GUR® UHMW-PE for significantly increased
filter performance.
GUR® UHMW-PE is the world leader in porous
applications, with the broadest portfolio, including
specialty products designed specifically for filtration
components for cleaner, safer water.

19
GUR® UHMW-PE
Functional Additives

GUR® UHMW-PE micropowders have exceptional

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE as an additive
properties as additives in a wide range of applica-
Major property improvements which may be achieved in tions. In the molten state, because of their very high
a matrix material by adding GUR® UHMW-PE
melt viscosity, they exhibit a rubber-elastic behav-
 Excellent scratch/cut/abrasion resistance ior and therefore maintain their particle shape and
morphology.
 Unique surface texturing

 Anti-slip properties This thermal-rheological property is of paramount

 Improved mechanical properties, e.g. impact strength importance for numerous applications. GUR®
and flexural modulus, decrease crack propagation UHMW-PE micropowders are available in various
particle sizes, tight particle size distribution and
 Improved dynamic coefficient of friction (sliding
properties) unique morphologies.

 Energy absorption

 Mechanical and dimensional thermostability

B
 road application temperature range (between -265 °C
and 90 °C)

 Improved mechanical dampening behavior

GUR® UHMW-PE micropowders unique particle shape
 Improved chemical resistance and noise reduction
and morphology

 Reduced water affinity and moisture absorption

 Biocompatibility & environmental friendliness (no

fluorine content)

 Good matrix compatibility and binding/phase connection

due to unique particle morphology characteristics

The SEM picture shows good binding of the structurebody

of 60µm-product with the paint layer (Layerthickness 80
microns).

Example applications Functions and key benefits

 Protective coatings Texturing additive, scratch resistance, dry lubricating
additive
 Decorative paint Matting agent

 Technical rubbers Processing aid, wear resistance enhancer

 Sealants Dispersant, co-binder, anti-scratch additive

 Plastic compounds & packaging Slip/anti-slip additive, surface effects

 Cosmetics & industrial soaps Soft peeling/scrubbing additive

20
Hydrophillic GUR®
UHMW-PE

In contrast to regular GUR® UHMW-PE, which is Hydrophilic GUR® UHMW-PE is used in writing
inherently hydrophobic (repels water), hydrophillic elements to improve the wicking, medical diagnostic
GUR® UHMW-PE grades have an affinity to water. devices, specialty filters, and other pharmaceutical
This property is desired in certain filtration and release applications, where solutions are drawn
wicking applications but also important for bonding from a reservoir.
certain paints and adhesives.
Several methods are known how to reverse
polyethylene’s behavior toward water. One approach
is blending with additives or grafting of hydrophilic
polymers which give the final parts certain
Wettability: Hydrophilic surfaces form thin water films
hydrophilicity. Drawback is however, that over Wettability:
with contactHydrophilic surfaces
angles between 0 andform
90° thin water films
with contact angles between 0 and 90°
time the respective substances can be washed out
Wettability: Hydrophilic surfaces form thin water films
resulting in a loss of wettability. In order to achieve with contact angles between 0 and 90°
a longer lasting effect technologies are applied to
partially oxidize the outer surface of GUR® UHMW-
PE (chemical bonding of polar groups → increase On hydrophobic surfaces a full wettability is not achievable
of surface energy). The oxidation can be obtained and water droplets show a contact angle of over 90°
by classical chemical reaction with oxidizing agents On hydrophobic surfaces a full wettability is not achievable
like H2O2 but also by plasma treatment, or by Onand water droplets
hydrophobic show aa contact
surfaces angle of is
full wettability over
not90°
achievable
oxyfluorination. and water droplets show a contact angle of over 90°

Nowadays plasma treatment is the predominant

technology, using a simple process gas like oxygen
or air to replace hydrogen by polar functional
groups.
Applications with a necessity for hydrophilic GUR®
UHMW-PE high performance powder are versatile;
however always display a combination of the
requirement for a hydrophilic material with the
unique properties of GUR® UHMW-PE, like Mw,
chemical resistance, particle size, bulk density, and
particle size distribution.
In wicking devices (e.g. writing nibs – see p. 18/19)
liquids will travel along the pores of sintered
GUR® UHMW-PE structures at a controllable rate.
The effect can be enhanced with hydrophilic GUR® GUR® UHMW-PE is inherently hydrophobic: the GUR®
UHMW-PE powder does not mix with water and floats on
UHMW-PE allowing for better transport and wicking. the surface. (right side). However, Celanese offers as well
hydrophilic grades, which mix well with water (left side)

21
GUR® UHMW-PE
Fibers

Processing

Gel spinning technology makes it possible to produce

extremely high-tenacity, low-stretch filament yarns from
GUR® UHMW-PE.

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE converted to fibers

 High strength/low weight

 Low specific gravity – floats on water

 Abrasion resistance Fishing line

 Excellent chemical resistance

 UV resistant The strength-to-weight ratio of GUR® UHMW-PE-

 Moisture resistant based fibers is unmatched when compared to other
polymeric fibers. Fiber tenacities exceeding 35
 High durability
grams/denier and moduli greater than 1,300 grams/
denier are possible. These properties combined
Applications:
with the low specific gravity offer many technical
 Protective gear such as cut-resistant gloves, and commercial advantages. Marine ropes and nets
fall protection harnesses. made with GUR® UHMW-PE are lightweight, making
them easier to transport, and they also improve
 Braided fishing lines, nets
fuel economy. Cut resistant gloves offer better
 Ropes (e.g. for the mooring of mobile oil platforms) dexterity and overall comfort, leading to better
 Ballistic fabrics, composites and articles compliance and reduced injuries. GUR® UHMW-
PE-based fabrics and composites offer ballistics
protection by absorbing and dissipating the energy
that are associated with particular threats. In the
ballistics market, there is a constant trade-off
between performance, weight and cost in regard to
ballistics solutions. The need to improve ballistics
performance continues as threat levels increase
around the globe. GUR® UHMW-PE is leading the
way to develop new materials that enable improved
performance and lower-weight solutions.

UHMW-PE mooring rope Miitary ballistic vest

22
GUR® UHMW-PE
Tapes

Processing

Solid-state technology, which makes it possible to

produce high-tenacity tapes and articles from GUR®
UHMW-PE without the use of plasticizers or solvents.

Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE converted to tapes

 High strength and modulus

 Low specific gravity

 Abrasion resistance Examples GUR® UHMW-PE tapes in various slit widths.

 Creep resistance

 Excellent chemical resistance The technology exists that makes it possible to

 Single polymer composite structure
orient GUR® UHMW-PE to obtain high-tenacity
tapes and articles. This approach offers multiple
advantages compared with conventional gelation
Applications:
processing. Solid-state conversion eliminates the
 Ballistics composites and articles use of plasticizers and solvents and, as a, result
simplifies manufacturing costs and complexities.
 Marine and industrial ropes
Furthermore, the conversion to ballistics panels
 Construction and reinforced panels is also simplified because GUR® UHMW-PE-based
 Industrial textiles tapes can be arranged and layered in the typical
0°/90° configuration without the need of binders.
In ballistics, GUR® UHMW-PE-based tapes ideally
offer cost advantages when trying to balance weight
and ballistics performance. This is most evident for
vehicle-armor applications, where relatively large
surface areas need protection.
Beyond ballistics, significant opportunities exist for
solid-state tapes. Marine and industrial ropes could
take advantage of the inherent creep resistance
compared with more conventional polyolefins.
Industrial ropes could fill a performance “gap”
in the mid-tenacity range. Large reinforced panels
could be combined with other polyethylene sheets
to improve modulus and make single polymer composites.

23
GUR® UHMW-PE
Orthopedic Implants

Our premium implant grades are now available

with vitamin E
Today, most implants are treated by modern
irradiation techniques for sterilization and/or
performance improvement. As a result of these
processes, free radicals are formed in the UHMW-
PE which can accelerate in vivo oxidation and shelf
aging of the implants. Degradation of the material
results in reduced mechanical properties, including
reduced wear resistance.
Ball socket of hip implant made of GUR®
Vitamin E is a collective term for the group of
tocopherols, of which alpha-tocopherol shows the
best properties as an antioxidant. It is a natural
substance that already exists in the human body
and can be used as a stabilizer for the orthopedic
implants made from UHMW-PE. Alpha-tocopherol
acts as a radical scavenger and eliminates the free
radicals preventing oxidation of the material.
Celanese now provides the first vitamin E powder
blend available on a commercial basis. The material
is produced in accordance with ASTM F2965 and
can be processed like virgin GUR® UHMW-PE
premium powder. All mechanical properties remain
unchanged compared to the original GUR® UHMW-
PE premium grades. The blend follows the typical
high standards of product cleanliness and shows a
very uniform vitamin E distribution.

Illustration of homogeneous
distribution of vitamin E

Compression molded parts made

of GUR® UHMW-PE vitamin E filled grades

24
 This combination of properties opens up a wide
Benefits of GUR® UHMW-PE
range of applications for GUR® UHMW-PE in the
Celanese, as the leader in UHMW-PE with over 40 years orthopedics device sector.
of application experience, helps meet the needs of
orthopedic surgeons with proven long-term materials The biocompatibility and flexibility of part design
performance in joint replacements. have led to GUR® UHMW-PE’s successful use in
orthopedic implants for over 40 years. As a result
GUR® UHMW-PE outstanding properties of continual product optimization, GUR® 1020
and GUR® 1050 are now the most frequently used
 Low wear
materials for articulating bearing surfaces in
 High purity orthopaedic surgical implant technology.
 Biocompatibility Celanese has taken into account the special
 Excellent lubricity requirements of medical technology for orthopedic
implants by ensuring exceptionally high quality and
 Abrasion resistance compliance with the approval and conformity criteria
 High energy absorption of regulatory agencies: USP Class VI, FDA Master Files.
For further information on ultra high molecular
weight polyethylene in medical implants, please
visit: www.uhmwpe.org
Sponsored by Celanese

25
GUR® UHMW-PE
Medical and Pharmaceutical
Filtration

Benefits of EP compliant Grades GUR® UHMW-PE – EU

Pharmacopoeia Compliant Grades
 Produced to meet strict requirements of EUP 3.1.3
(Polyolefins) Version 8.0 The European Pharmacopoeia (EUP) defines
 Material tests to confirm compliance requirements for the qualitative and quantitative
composition of medicines, the tests to be carried
Applications out on medicines and on substances and materials
 Filtration of bodily fluids (e.g. blood) used in their production. The European Directorate
for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare is
 Drug reservoirs or venting
responsible for maintaining the EUP which
 Medical packaging is current on version 8.0.
 Chromatography, separation, affinity and extraction filters Building on our extensive experience in implant
 Clinical sciences diagnostic filters
grade materials, Celanese is pleased to announce
the introduction of a new line of GUR® UHMW-PE
Available GUR® UHMW-PE EUP compliant grades grades which are compliant with Monograph 3.1.3
of the EUP 8.0. Confirmation of conformity to EUP
 GUR 2122 EP
8.0 is a common requirement for many applications
 GHR 8020 EP in the more sensitive areas of medical, clinical
 GUR 4022-6 EP
sciences and life sciences fields.

 GUR 4012 EP EP grades are produced to ensure compliance

to all specifications laid out in monograph 3.1.3
 GUR 4018 EP
which includes strict limits on elements such as
 GUR 4050-3 EP ash content, heavy metal extractables, acidity
and alkalinity. Material comes with Celanese
confirmation of conformity.
Currently the following EP grades are commercially
available. Additional grades could be developed if
sufficient market demand exists. Please speak with
your Celanese sales representative if the grade you
are interested in is not listed on the left.

26
GUR® UHMW-PE
Melt Processable Grades

With these melt processable grades, GUR® UHMW-

Melt processable GUR® UHMW-PE
PE can be applied to broader applications that would
As described in the GUR® UHMW-PE unique properties benefit from its very unique properties.
section, GUR® UHMW-PE is characterized by its lack
of melt flow, which usually requires special processing For example, these grades can be used to make
technologies such as compression molding or extruded pipes, pipe liners or composite pipes, which
ram extrusion. offer a highly abrasion resistant solution extending
Therefore, we have developed special melt processable the lifetime of the pipe and therefore reducing
grades which maintain the unique properties of GUR® ongoing maintenance costs. GUR® UHMW-PE’s
UHMW-PE while being compatible with the following low coefficient of friction also means less energy
process technologies: required for pumping, less frequent clogging of
 Screw extrusion pipes and, depending on the pipeline design, smaller
diameters compared to conventional pipe systems.
 Injection molding
With deep knowledge and expertise on materials
 Injection compression molding and processing, Celanese is the ideal partner to
identify the optimal solution to address your needs.

27
GUR® UHMW-PE
Pioneers in Technology
and Innovation
Application Scientific and
and Technical
Processing Communication
Market and
Requirements
Customer
Needs

New
The home of our dedicated Research and Development Today the group can be subdivided into two parts:
Product
Development
team remains in our Oberhausen site where Dr. Karl 1) New product development and 2) New application
Ziegler originally brought his exciting new catalyst development. These two groups both work in close
technology back in 1955. New
coordination with our internal New
Process teams,Application
customers and
Development Development
Since then our R&D group remains at the forefront development partners to deliver novel solutions.
of UHMW-PE development in the world and remains
committed to driving value-added technologies in
the future. Solutions

nical Commun
d Tech ica
ions
lut
tio
an
So
fic

n
nti

New New
Scie

Product Application
Development Development

on and
Applicati ments
g quire
R e
Processin New
Process
Development
nd s
e t a eed
rk r N
Ma ome
st
Cu

28
GUR® UHMW-PE
Pioneers in Technology
and Innovation

Benchtop Pilot Plant Manufacturing

(Grams) (Kilograms) (Tons)

New product development New application development

This group is focused on developing new polymerization The application developement group is working
and process technologies to enable new product closely with our commercial team and customers
properties meeting the needs of our customers. to find new innovative application areas for GUR®
Our research facility has a complete pilot plant facility UHMW-PE. A close relationship with existing
which provides an efficient development pathway from customers as well as other interested development
lab to manufacturing scale. partners allows us to tailor products to the need of
the market for known or new applications. Examples
Our research facility has a complete pilot plant
may be membranes, fibers, or the use of GUR®
facility, which provides an efficient development
UHMW-PE particles as additives to improve the
pathway from lab to manufacturing scale.
properties of other materials. Our Research center
is equipped with all of the latest processing and
test equipment which is able to translate the basic
material properties to very special market needs.

29
GUR® UHMW-PE
Product Stewardship
and Quality

Regulatory Approvals Quality management

Assessment under food legislation the GUR® The fulfillment of the quality requirements of our
UHMW-PE and GHR® standard grades, in customers is a fundamental principle for Celanese.
natural color, when used in accordance with In this process we are constantly updating our
recommendations given in our product literature certification and processes. Our processes have
and in accordance with 21 CFR 177.1520, meet been registered since the early 1990’s under
the applicable FDA polyolefin regulation, including ISO 9000.
specifications 2.1 and 2.2.
From this base in 2003 Celanese built
GUR® 4120, GUR® 4130 and GUR®‚ 4150 are “The Integrated Management System” (TIMS).
approved by the USDA for direct contact with meat
The most important certifications for Celanese
or poultry prepared under Federal inspection. In
include:
recommendation (Empfehlung) III “Polyethylenes”,
the German Federal Institute for Consumer Health ISO 9001
Protection and Veterinary Medicine (BgVV) regulates ISO/TS 16949
the use of polyethylene for the manufacture of
consumer articles as defined in Article 5, Para. 1, ISO 14001
No. 1 of the German “Food and Consumer Articles Certification to the standard ISO 9001 and ISO/
Law”(LMBG). TS/6949 has been achieved by all Celanese
The BgVV recommendations lay down in accordance production sites. Also we have the environmental
with the present state of science and technology standard ISO 14001.
under what conditions a consumer article made For the up to date certification information please
from plastics satisfies the requirements of Article refer to our home page www.celanese.com where
31, Para. 1of the LMBG. The recommendations state copies of our certifications are available for
that articles must be suitable for their intended download.
application and should not impart odor or taste
to food. All basic grades (see section 1.1) comply
with Recommendation III. There are therefore no
objections on health grounds to the use of these
materials for the production of consumer articles
for food contact applications.

30
31
GUR® UHMW-PE
Typical Physical Properties
& Test Methods

Properties Unit Test Method GHR 8110 GUR 2122 GUR 2126
Average molecular weight g/mol Calculated from VN using Margo- 0,8*106 4,2*106 4,2*106
lies´equation
Viscosity number (VN) ml/g ISO 1628, part 3 600 2100 2100

Average particle size (d50) µm Laser scattering 120 130 30

Density g/cm³ ISO 1183 method A 0,95 0,93 0,93

Bulk density g/cm³ ISO 60 0,44 0,25 0,28

Mechanical Properties
Wear by the sand-slurry method none internal test method 310 100 100
(based on GUR 4120 = 100)
Tensile modulus Et MPa ISO 527, part 1/2; 1100 770 770
test speed 1 mm/min
Tensile stress at yield σy MPa ISO 527, part 1/2; 26 21 21
test speed 50 mm/min
Tensile strain at yield εy % ISO 527, part 1/2; 9 13 13
test speed 50 mm/min
Nominal elongation at break εtB % ISO 527, part 1/2; > 500 400 400
test speed 50 mm/min
Ball indentation hardness, 30 sec value N/mm² ISO 2039, part 1 47 38

Shore hardness D, 15 sec value ISO 868 63 60 60

Thermal Properties
Heat deflection temperature HDT/A (1.8 MPa) °C ISO 75, part 1/2 41 41 41

Vicat softening temperature VST/B/50 °C ISO 306 80 80 80

Melting point °C DSC, 10 K/min 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138

32
GUR 4018 GUR 4012 GUR 4113 GUR 4120 GUR 4022 GUR 4152 GUR 4150 GUR 4170 Properties
0,6*106 1,7*106 3,7*106 4,7*106 5,3*106 7,6*106 8,7*106 10,2*106 Average molecular weight

500 1100 1900 2300 2500 3300 3700 4200 Viscosity number (VN)

110 135 120 120 145 180 120 120 Average particle size (d50)

0,95 0,94 0,93 0,93 0,93 0,93 0,93 0,92 Density

0,45 0,45 0,46 0,45 0,45 0,48 0,45 0,45 Bulk density

Mechanical Properties
250 140 130 100 100 95 85 80 Wear by the sand-slurry method
(based on GUR 4120 = 100)
1150 910 800 680 800 780 630 570 Tensile modulus Et

27 23 22 20 21 21 19 19 Tensile stress at yield σy

9 11 12 13 13 13 14 15 Tensile strain at yield εy

> 500 > 500 430 > 450 410 300 400 360 Nominal elongation at break εtB

  42 39 36   40 36 35 Ball indentation hardness, 30 sec

value
63 60 62 60 60 60 60 60 Shore hardness D, 15 sec value

Thermal Properties
43 41 38 41 41 38 38 Heat deflection temperature
HDT/A (1.8 MPa)
80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 Vicat softening temperature
VST/B/50
130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 130 - 138 Melting point

33
GUR® UHMW-PE Grades:
Properties

Property 1) d50 MW BD
small medium coarse low medium high low high

GHR 8020 + + +

GHR 8110 + + +

GUR 1020* + + +

GUR 1050* + + +

GUR 2024 + + +

GUR 2105 + + +

GUR 2105-1 + + +

GUR 2122 + + +

GUR 2122-5 + + +

GUR 2126 + + +

GUR 4017 + + +

GUR 4018 + + +

GUR 4012 + + +

GUR 4022 + + +

GUR 4022-6 + + +

GUR 4122 + + +

GUR 4122-5 + + +

GUR 4020-3 + + +

GUR 4120 + + +

GUR 4130 + + +

GUR 4032 + + +

GUR 4050-3 + + +

GUR 4056-3** + + +

GUR 4150 + + +

GUR 4150-3 + + +

GUR 4170 + + +

GUR 4523 + + +

GUR 4550 + + +

GUR 4113 + + +

GUR 5113 Pellet + +

GUR 5129 Pellet + +

GUR 5523 Pellet + +

Hostalloy 731 Pellet + +

GUR X161** + + +

GUR X 195 + + +

GUR X 201 + + +

GUR X 205 + + +

*medical Property and its ranges: d50 average particle size (small <100µm, coarse >170µm);
1)

**hydrophilic MW molecular weight (low <1Mio g/mol, high >7Mio g/mol); BD bulk density (low <0,35 g/cm3, high >0,35g/cm3);
impact strength (medium <100kJ/m2, very high >180kJ/m2); abrasion resistance (medium >200, very high <120)

34
 Impact Strength Abrasion resistances Property 1)
medium high very high medium high very high

+ + GHR 8020

+ + GHR 8110

+ + GUR 1020*

+ + GUR 1050*

+ + GUR 2024

+ + GUR 2105

+ + GUR 2105-1

+ + GUR 2122

+ + GUR 2122-5

+ + GUR 2126

+ + GUR 4017

+ + GUR 4018

+ + GUR 4012

+ + GUR 4022

+ + GUR 4022-6

+ + GUR 4122

+ + GUR 4122-5

+ + GUR 4020-3

+ + GUR 4120

+ + GUR 4130

+ + GUR 4032

+ + GUR 4050-3

+ + GUR 4056-3**

+ + GUR 4150

+ + GUR 4150-3

+ + GUR 4170

+ + GUR 4523

+ + GUR 4550

+ + GUR 4113

+ + GUR 5113

+ + GUR 5129

+ + GUR 5523

+ + Hostalloy 731

+ + GUR X161**

+ + GUR X 195

+ + GUR X 201

+ + GUR X 205

35
 ENGINEERED MATERIALS
celanese.com/engineered-materials

Contact Information
Americas
8040 Dixie Highway, Florence, KY 41042 USA
Product Information Service
t: +1-800-833-4882 t: +1-859-372-3244
Customer Service
t: +1-800-526-4960 t: +1-859-372-3214
e: info-engineeredmaterials-am@celanese.com

Europe
Am Unisys-Park 1, 65843 Sulzbach, Germany
Product Information Service
t: +(00)-800-86427-531 t: +49-(0)-69-45009-1011
e: info-engineeredmaterials-eu@celanese.com

Asia
4560 Jinke Road, Zhang Jiang Hi Tech Park
Shanghai 201203 PRC
Customer Service
t: +86 21 3861 9266 f: +86 21 3861 9599
e: info-engineeredmaterials-asia@celanese.com

Copyright © 2016 Celanese or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Celanese®, registered C-ball design and all other trademarks identified herein with the ®, TM, SM, unless otherwise noted,
are trademarks of Celanese or its affiliates.

This publication was printed September 2016 based on Celanese’s present state of knowledge, and Celanese undertakes no obligation
to update it. Because conditions of product use are outside Celanese’s control, Celanese makes no warranties, express or implied,
and assumes no liability in connection with any use of this information. Nothing herein is intended as a license to operate u
 nder or
a recommendation to infringe any patents. GUR-015-UHMW-PE Overview-PM-EN-r1-0916