UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, sometimes shortened to UH) is a type of polyolefin.
UHMWPE is synthesised from monomers of ethylene, which react together in the presence of a catalyst to form ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
It has extremely long chains, with molecular weight numbering in the millions, usually between 2 and 6 million.
1932: first fibre-forming polyesters from Carothers und Hill (DuPont) made out of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aliphatic diols
1942: first PBT fibres from Schlack
1970s: market launch of PBT compounds.
PBT is used for its:
Moreover, PBT exhibits:
Automotive: headlights, wipers.
Industry applications: Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) control modules, gear housing, steering-angle sendors, door control devices or airbag connectors.
Universal applications: Strips for window frame profiles, fibre optical cables.
PBT is produced by polycondensation of terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate with 1,4 –butanediol using special catalysts. Terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4 -butanediol are obtained from petrochemical feedstocks, such as xylene and acetylene. The chemical structure is illustrated in the following structural formula:
PBT is 100% mechanically and feedstock recyclable. It can also be recovered in state-of-the-art incineration plants by generating energy.
The most appropriate recovery options depend on many boundary conditions such as local legislation, plastics part design, access to sorting facilities and regional logistics and recycling costs.
