Celanese UHMW-PE 4012
- Product Name: Celanese UHMW-PE 4012
- Factroy Site: Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- Price Inquiry: sales8@ascent-chem.com
- Manufacturer: Ascent Petrochem Holdings Co., Limited
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- Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 is typically used in formulations when molecular weight and powder particle size distribution and processing temperature and shear rate must be controlled within specific ranges.
| HS Code | 600067 |
| Density | 0.93 g/cm³ |
| Molecular Weight | 3.5 x 10^6 g/mol |
| Bulk Density | 0.45 g/cm³ |
| Average Particle Size | 150 µm |
| Melting Point | 135 °C |
| Crystallinity | 50% |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.41 W/m·K |
| Coefficient Of Linear Thermal Expansion | 200 µm/m·K |
| Tensile Modulus | 700 MPa |
| Tensile Strength At Yield | 17 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | >300% |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength | No break |
| Shore D Hardness | 62 |
| Water Absorption | <0.01% |
| Coefficient Of Friction | 0.15 |
| Dielectric Constant | 2.3 |
| Volume Resistivity | >10^14 ohm·cm |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | 80 °C |
As an accredited Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 is supplied in 25 kg multilayer paper bags, palletized, and shrink-wrapped for secure industrial shipment. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Loaded in 20′ FCL: palletized bags of Celanese UHMW-PE 4012, dry container, evenly distributed, secured, protected from moisture and contamination. |
| Shipping | Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 ships as a non-hazardous, non-regulated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. No UN number or dangerous goods class applies. Transport in clean, dry, sealed containers at ambient temperature, protected from moisture, heat, sunlight, and contamination. Standard freight and documentation are suitable. |
| Storage | Store in original packaging. Store Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, ignition sources, and strong oxidizers. Keep containers tightly closed to prevent contamination and moisture ingress. Avoid prolonged UV exposure. Maintain good housekeeping; no special ventilation is required under normal conditions. Follow the manufacturer's SDS and local regulations. |
| Shelf Life | Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 typically has a two-year shelf life when stored dry, in original sealed packaging, away from heat and sunlight. |
In liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion cell lines, Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 is processed as the polymer matrix in a wet-process separator casting operation. Because the powder exhibits a flow rate below practical laboratory detection limits under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 21.6 kg and 190 °C, the resin cannot be melt-blown into a coherent film on conventional single-screw film lines. The quality system for automotive separator production is typically governed by IATF 16949:2016, while film tensile properties are reported against ISO 527-3:2018 and thickness uniformity is verified by in-line capacitance gauging; material compliance additionally requires Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and Directive 2011/65/EU. Formulation windows cited in wet-process separator literature place the UHMW-PE fraction between 15 wt% and 35 wt% and process oil between 65 wt% and 85 wt%; the oil acts as a temporary plasticizer and phase-separation medium. Published data for this specific 4012 grade in commercial separator recipes is limited outside Celanese technical guidance, so the exact oil loading must be confirmed against gel fracture behavior on the target line. The downstream production sequence uses a co-rotating twin-screw extruder with an L/D ratio of 40:1 to 60:1 at melt temperatures of 180–230 °C, followed by gear-pump discharge through a T-die, chill-roll casting at 30–70 °C, sequential machine-direction and transverse-direction stretching, methylene chloride or n-hexane extraction of the process oil, and staged thermal setting at 110–130 °C. The resulting finished product type is a microporous lithium-ion separator film, typically 5–20 µm thick, used between anode and cathode in consumer, power-tool, and electric-vehicle cells.
Why Does Sintering Time Govern Pore-Channel Uniformity in 4012 Filter Elements?
Porous filtration elements manufactured from Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 are produced by sintering the powder in rigid molds rather than by melt extrusion, because the molar mass of the resin prevents macroscopic melt flow and requires inter-particle diffusion to form a load-bearing porous body. Compliance documentation for hydraulic filter elements is evaluated under ISO 16889 multipass filter testing, while maximum pore diameter and permeability can be reported under ASTM E128; water-contact components may be additionally required to meet NSF/ANSI 61 or local drinking-water migration limits. The charge is 100 wt% 4012 powder with no process oil, binder, or plasticizer; pore volume is controlled by powder particle-size cut and compaction force, commonly producing a pore volume of 30–50 vol% depending on service. Production begins with filling a two-part mold to a predetermined shot weight, followed by vibratory settling to prevent segregation, then heating to 180–220 °C at a rate limited to approximately 5 K min⁻¹ to avoid skin-to-core thermal lag. Peak temperature is held for 30–120 min according to wall thickness; sintering time below the lower bound results in insufficient particle fusion at the core, while excessive hold time collapses surface pores and reduces permeability. Final machined products include filter tubes, filter plates, aeration diffusers, silencers, and solvent-resistant filtration candles.
In bottling, packaging, and conveyor systems, industrial wear strips and chain guides are ram-extruded from Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 because high-molar-mass polyethylene cannot be processed on single-screw extruders without risking shear-induced chain degradation and unstable output. The material specification normally references ASTM D4020-18 for UHMW-PE molding and extrusion grades, with density tested by ISO 1183-1:2019 and tensile yield by ISO 527-2:2012. Standard wear-strip formulations are 100 parts by weight of 4012, with an optional internal lubricant such as calcium stearate at 0.1–0.3 wt% where improved powder feed to the ram barrel is required; color masterbatch is held below 2.0 wt% to prevent die-face deposit and surface streaking. Downstream processing is performed on a vertical or horizontal ram extruder with heated barrel zones set to 190–230 °C, a reciprocating plunger cycle time of 20–60 s per charge depending on profile cross-section, and a heated die land backed by a take-off puller calibrated to ±0.1 mm profile tolerance. Batch-to-batch bulk-density variation is controlled by metering shot weight rather than volumetric dosing, preventing inconsistent material accumulation in the die. It is machined into straight wear strips, L-shaped guide rails, chain guides, scraper blades, and wear shoes for beverage, pharmaceutical, and packaging conveyor lines.
Compression-Molded Food-Grade Star Wheels and Chain Guides: Temperature Uniformity and FDA Compliance
For food processing equipment components, compression molding of UHMW-PE 4012 in heated platen presses avoids orientation effects that can cause anisotropic wear in machined star wheels and chain guides. Compliance is anchored to FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for olefin polymers in direct and indirect food-contact use and to EU Regulation No 10/2011, with an overall migration limit of 10 mg dm⁻² under food-simulant testing. The formulation is 100 wt% virgin 4012 powder; no plasticizer, release agent, or recycled process scrap is introduced where direct food contact must be demonstrated. The downstream conversion process uses a hydraulic compression press with platen parallelism maintained to ±0.05 mm m⁻¹, mold preheat to 190–240 °C, applied pressure of 5–20 MPa, and controlled cooling under pressure at 10–30 K h⁻¹ until the mold reaches below 60 °C. Insufficient cooling under pressure is the primary failure mode in thin-wall star-wheel spokes and chain-guide grooves, producing warpage that cannot be corrected by post-machining. Terminal products include star wheels, chain guides, wear shoes, and guide rails for dairy, beverage, meat-processing, and bakery conveyor lines.
When Hopper Liner Thickness Exceeds 20 mm in Bulk Solids Handling, Ram Extrusion Is Preferred Over Pressed Sheet
Because bulk solids handling liners in mining, cement, grain, and chemical storage require thick cross-sections with sustained abrasion resistance, Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 is selected for ram-extruded or compression-molded slabs that are machined into hopper, bin, chute, and silo liners. Contractual compliance for industrial polymer component supply normally requires ISO 11542-1:2001 and ASTM D4020-18, with REACH registration under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and RoHS recast Directive 2011/65/EU. The loading is 100 parts by weight UHMW-PE; for outdoor installations, 0.1–0.5 wt% of a hindered-amine light stabilizer or carbon black masterbatch is added only when UV exposure is specified. The production route for thick liners above 20 mm uses a ram extruder rather than pressed sheet because ram extrusion imparts a continuous sintered core with fewer knit lines and lower internal stress; slab thickness is normally 10–50 mm, and post-machining on CNC routers holds bolt-hole and countersink tolerances to ±0.2 mm. The slab is converted into hopper liners, silo liners, truck-bed liners, and impact-abrasion wear plates.
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- Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 is manufactured under an ISO 9001 quality system and complies with relevant regulatory requirements.
- COA, SDS/MSDS, and related certificates are available upon request. For certificate requests or inquiries, contact: sales8@ascent-chem.com.
Celanese UHMW-PE 4012, supplied as GUR 4012 in fine white powder, is an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene homopolymer with a viscosity-average molecular weight reported as 9.0 × 106 g/mol by dilute-solution viscosity in accordance with ISO 1628-3. The base polymer is processed not by conventional melt extrusion or injection moulding but by compression moulding and ram extrusion, because the entangled high-molecular-weight network does not exhibit a measurable melt mass-flow rate under ISO 1133-1:2022. Density is published at 0.930 g/cm³ by ISO 1183-1, and bulk density is typically controlled to 0.45 g/cm³ or higher by ISO 60. The product is specified for thick-section wear parts, machine components, and ram-extruded profiles where resistance to abrasion and impact loading outweighs high-throughput melt processability. Users should confirm lot-specific certificate-of-analysis values, because supplier datasheet ranges may vary with production site and lot history.
The 4012 Molecular Weight Creates No Measurable Melt Flow in Conventional Plastication Equipment
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene at 9.0 × 106 g/mol develops an entanglement density that suppresses chain diffusion below the levels required for stable screw-driven plastication. In conventional single-screw extrusion, the material exhibits a gel-like consistency above its melting point and does not form a uniform melt pool; screw channels of 25:1 to 30:1 L/D that are effective for HDPE generate insufficient shear heating and transport. The absence of measurable melt mass-flow rate is therefore not a testing artefact but a processing boundary. Ram extrusion and compression moulding are used because they apply direct pressure to the powder bed and consolidate particles through contact deformation, sintering, and entanglement across particle interfaces.
On production-scale reciprocating-ram extruders, the powder is fed into a heated barrel of 10:1 to 20:1 L/D and advanced by a hydraulic ram; die-head pressures commonly fall between 25 MPa and 60 MPa for high-molecular-weight grades. Inadequate venting or insufficient back-pressure creates weld-line porosity at the interfaces between successive ram compacts. This failure mode is observed on hydraulic ram lines when powder bulk density falls below 0.45 g/cm³, which reduces the effective compaction ratio and increases trapped air in the consolidated rod.
Conventional injection moulding is not applicable because the material does not flow under the standard ISO 1133-1:2022 test and cannot be plasticated by a reciprocating screw.
In wear-intensive mining and bulk-handling applications, 4012 is selected for chute liners, chain guides, and pump housings because the high entanglement density raises double-notched impact strength to “no break” under ISO 11542-2. The associated trade-off is reduced throughput: ram speed must be lower than that used for lower-molecular-weight UHMW-PE grades to permit adequate dwell time for particle fusion. Published production-rate comparisons are equipment-specific; published data for this specific configuration is limited for multi-cavity compression tools larger than 1,000 mm built for this grade.
Property Profile for Solid-State and Consolidated Stock Shapes
The following values are extracted from published datasheets and represent typical values, not batch-specific release limits. Lot certificates from the supplier control production release and should govern final specification decisions.
| Property | Test basis | Published typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 0.930 g/cm³ |
| Viscosity-average molecular weight | ISO 1628-3 | 9.0 × 106 g/mol |
| Bulk density | ISO 60 | ≥ 0.45 g/cm³ |
| Tensile stress at yield | ISO 527-2 | 21 MPa |
| Elongation at break | ISO 527-2 | > 300 % |
| Double-notched Izod impact | ISO 11542-2 | no break |
| Shore D hardness | ISO 868 | 62 |
| Melting peak | ISO 11357-3 | 133 °C to 136 °C |
The tensile yield value of 21 MPa is obtained at 23 °C and a test speed of 50 mm/min under ISO 527-2. The double-notched impact test is used because conventional notched Izod often fails to break this material under standard pendulum energies; the result is therefore reported as “no break” rather than as a finite impact-energy value.
For stock-shape production, the powder is first cold-compacted in a mould cavity at 10–20 MPa to remove air and establish a uniform preform. The preform is then heated under pressure to 210–230 °C, with hold time scaled to wall thickness. Published field data from industrial compression presses indicate that heating shorter than 15 min per 25 mm of section thickness can leave a cold core that retains particle boundaries; post-forming microtomy reveals spherical unfused particles at the centre. Such defects reduce elongation at break and create crack-initiation paths under repetitive impact.
When Compression Moulding Replaces Ram Extrusion, Preform Consolidation Thresholds Change
Compression moulding of 4012 requires a different thermal history than ram extrusion. The ram-extrusion barrel can deliver progressively accumulating heat along the compacted powder column, but a compression mould relies on conductive heat transfer through the tool surface. Section thickness therefore becomes the dominant control parameter. For a slab thickness of 50 mm, industrial practice typically includes a cold-compaction step at 10–20 MPa, followed by heating to 220 °C under maintained pressure, a dwell of 30–45 min, and cooling to below 50 °C before demoulding. Cooling under pressure is necessary to prevent warpage and to avoid vacuum-void formation in the centre as the material contracts.
The critical processing window narrows because the melting peak is near 133–136 °C, but efficient particle fusion occurs only above approximately 190 °C. Sustained exposure above 250 °C initiates thermo-oxidative chain scission, visible as yellowing and a drop in elongation at break. Therefore, the practical consolidation window is approximately 210–230 °C at the tool surface, with a tolerance of ±5 °C. When tool-centre thermocouples read below 200 °C, incomplete fusion produces a measurable loss of yield strength; when the surface exceeds 240 °C for extended cycles, oxidative embrittlement can occur. This is a critical threshold rather than a broad operating tolerance.
Moisture absorption is below 0.01 % under ISO 62, so drying is not routinely required for sealed raw material. If powder has been stored at relative humidity above 60 %, surface moisture may pressurise during heating and create microvoids; a pre-drying step of 2 h at 80 °C in a circulating-air dryer is recommended. The grade is incompatible with conventional melt compounding of polar fillers and with amine-based additives that can inhibit particle fusion or promote discoloration at processing temperatures. Avoid long residence times in heated barrels because the high molecular weight does not permit melt homogenisation to correct local degradation.
Lot-to-lot variation in powder bulk density and particle size distribution influences the compaction ratio on ram extruders. A lower bulk density lot requires longer feed stroke or reduced ram speed to maintain die-head pressure; otherwise the final rod exhibits density gradients. Production logs from hydraulic ram lines with 100 t clamp force and 300 mm barrel stroke show that die-head pressure control to ±5 MPa improves longitudinal dimensional stability. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for smaller laboratory-scale ram extruders.
What Separates 4012 from Lower-Viscosity UHMW-PE Extrusion Grades?
The principal differentiator is viscosity-average molecular weight. Lower-viscosity UHMW-PE extrusion grades in the same supplier family may be specified at 3.0–5.0 × 106 g/mol, while commodity HDPE is typically 0.05–0.5 × 106 g/mol. The higher entanglement density of 4012 improves resistance to impact and abrasive wear but narrows the ram-extrusion operating envelope and reduces mass throughput. It is therefore selected when the finished part is thick-walled, subject to sliding wear, or must survive sustained low-temperature impact rather than high-speed thin-wall extrusion.
| Comparison parameter | Celanese UHMW-PE 4012 | Lower-molecular-weight UHMW-PE extrusion grade | HDPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity-average molecular weight | 9.0 × 106 g/mol | 3.0–5.0 × 106 g/mol | 0.05–0.5 × 106 g/mol |
| Melt mass-flow rate under ISO 1133-1:2022 | not measurable | not measurable | 1–20 g/10 min at 190 °C / 2.16 kg |
| Primary conversion route | ram extrusion, compression moulding | ram extrusion, compression moulding | injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding |
| Double-notched Izod impact under ISO 11542-2 | no break | no break | not applicable; use notched Izod ISO 180 |
| Tensile yield | 21 MPa | 20–22 MPa | 22–30 MPa |
The difference between 4012 and lower-molecular-weight UHMW-PE becomes visible in ram extrusion. At identical die dimensions, 4012 requires lower ram speed or elevated die pressure to maintain dimensional stability; thicker sections can be produced, but weld-line fusion at the interface between consecutive ram charges is more sensitive to die temperature. Operators therefore run 4012 at the upper end of the recommended die-temperature range and lower the ram stroke frequency. The selection rationale is supported by double-notched impact testing under ISO 11542-2 and tensile yield testing under ISO 527-2, not by melt-flow comparisons.
For food-contact and medical-adjacent applications, the base polymer is usually evaluated against 21 CFR 177.1520 for olefin polymers and EU Regulation 10/2011 Annex I. Compliance is grade-specific and lot-specific; migration testing under EU Regulation 10/2011 Annex I must be conducted on the finished article because processing aids, pigmentation, or converter-added materials may alter the overall migration limit. Biocompatibility for implantable use is not established by these food-contact standards; evaluation under ISO 10993-1 is required, and published data for this specific configuration is limited.
The unfilled homopolymer is not formulated with cadmium, lead, mercury, or hexavalent chromium, and supplier documentation generally confirms conformity with 2011/65/EU; nonetheless, the converter must verify the finished article because ancillary materials can introduce restricted substances.
In thick-walled pump housings and marine fender pads, the material is joined by hot-plate welding or machined from compression-moulded sheet. Hot-plate welding requires surface temperatures above 200 °C and controlled squeeze pressure to avoid squeezing softened material from the weld. Welding operators use heated platens at 220 °C and a weld displacement of 0.5–1.0 mm after melt-bead formation. Published data for this specific configuration is limited for dissimilar joining to HDPE, and joints should be validated by tensile or pressure-cycle testing under ISO 13953 or the applicable pipe-joint standard.
