UHMW-PE Grades Tailored for Injection Molders.

Two new UHMW-PE resins are designed to give processors the option of injection molding instead of compression molding or ram extrusion to produce parts that need exceptional toughness, abrasion resistance, and lubricity. New GUR 5113 and Hostalloy 731 from Ticona, Summit, N.J., can be used for clotheswasher and dryer suspensions, dishwasher parts, conveyor components, escalator guides (photo), forklift bearings, and copier gears.

Both grades are FDA compliant and are sold in pellets. Of the two, GUR 5113 boasts better wear resistance and impact strength. It has a relative wear number of 110 (by the sand-slurry method) and Charpy double-notched impact strength of 150 kJ/[m.sup.2]. However, Hostalloy 731 is easier to mold. It has a Taber abrasion value of 1.7 mg/1000 cycles and a Charpy double-notched impact strength of 15 kJ/[m.sup.2] or more.