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Home > About us > Plastic Bearing Columns > Characteristics of PE (Polyethylene)

Characteristics of PE (Polyethylene)

Plastic container

This time, we would like to introduce PE.

PE, also known as polyethylene, is one of the more inexpensive resins and is used in many applications. For example, the “poly” in “poly tank” comes from polyethylene. Likewise, PE fishing lines are, as the name suggests, made from polyethylene. In this way, PE is used in a wide variety of products, from containers to fishing lines.

Next, let’s look at the characteristics of PE.

Overall Advantages and Disadvantages of PE (Polyethylene)

Advantages

  • Low cost
  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Extremely low water absorption
  • Excellent non-stick properties
  • Lightweight

Thanks to its low cost, excellent chemical resistance, and low water absorption, PE is widely used in many plastic products.

Disadvantages

  • Low heat resistance (recommended maximum operating temperature for bearings: around 60 °C)
  • High coefficient of thermal expansion, making it prone to dimensional change

Types of PE (Polyethylene)

While we’ve just listed the general characteristics of PE, it can be broadly divided into two types based on density:

  • LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) – density: 0.91 – 0.92
  • HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) – density: 0.92 – 0.96

There is also a form with an extremely high molecular weight (usually 100 – 700 × 10⁴ compared to the typical 20 – 30 × 10⁴), called UHMWPE (Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene).

UHMW

Differences in density and molecular weight lead to these classifications, each with distinct characteristics.

Types and Characteristics of PE (Polyethylene)

LDPE: Softer than other PEs and sometimes called soft PE. Often used in films.
HDPE: Harder than other PEs and sometimes called hard PE. Excellent tensile and impact strength, commonly used in extruded products.
UHMWPE: Outstanding impact and wear resistance. Used in many fields including industrial machinery. Poor flow even above melting point, making it unsuitable for injection molding. Classified as an engineering plastic.

Examples of Use

LDPE: Food packaging film, cushioning material (bubble wrap), plastic bags
HDPE: Plastic tanks, beer crates, plastic buckets
UHMWPE: Fishing lines, industrial products, prosthetics

Our bearings use UHMWPE.

UHMW bearings

Due to its relatively low cost and excellent chemical resistance, UHMWPE is widely used in environments exposed to chemicals or water. It also complies with the Food Sanitation Act, making it safe for use in food-related equipment.

Examples of UHMWPE Bearing Applications

Examples of actual usage can be found on our Case Studies page.

Pillow unit for sodium hypochlorite cleaningPillow unit for sodium hypochlorite cleaning Resin bearings resistant to phosphoric acidResin bearings resistant to phosphoric acid Bearings for static preventionBearings for static prevention

Standard UHMWPE is milky white, but grades with black conductive properties are also available. Since plastics are generally highly insulating and prone to static buildup, conductive UHMWPE is used when static electricity could adversely affect chemicals or products being handled in the equipment.

UHMWPE is an excellent material. However, even if dimensions are within tolerance immediately after machining, measurements taken later may show changes. It also tends to expand in summer and contract in winter. For this reason, we take seasonal dimensional changes into account during machining and adjust our methods to minimise their effects.

Summary

This time we introduced PE, but there are many other materials available. Each has different characteristics, so selecting the right one can be challenging. If you are considering resin bearings or machined resin parts, please feel free to contact us — we can help with material selection and make recommendations.

 

Catalogue Downloads

 

Back to Plastic Bearing Columns

About us

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  • Plastic Bearing Columns
    • Plastics and Electrical Properties (Insulation, Antistatic, Conductivity)
    • Characteristics of PE (Polyethylene)
    • Corrosion Test on Bearings
    • What Are Angular Contact Ball Bearings?
    • Dimensional Changes in Plastics and Processing Methods
    • The Role of Fillers in Plastic Bearings
    • Glass Transition Temperature in Plastics
    • Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) in Plastics
    • Melting Point and Heat Resistance of Plastics
    • Types of Plastics Based on Tensile, Compressive, and Flexural Strength
    • Thermal Expansion in Plastics
    • Water Absorption in Plastics
    • What Is Weather Resistance in Plastics?
    • What is “Creep” in Plastics?
    • Ball Bearing Precision Grades
    • Friction Coefficient of Plastic Bearings
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