Plastic producer Braskem (São Paulo / Brazil; www.braskem.com.br) has expanded its portfolio of UHMW-PE. The company said its "Utec 9540" is the "highest molecular weight polyethylene polymer commercially available worldwide."

Utec 9540 has a molecular weight more than 50 times higher than conventional HDPE and is suitable for applications requiring "extreme" abrasion resistance. In addition, the material has a high impact resistance and a low coefficient of friction.

According to Braskem, "Utec" products are self-lubricating, high-strength and lightweight machinable. In addition, they are eight times lighter than steel and ten times more durable than HDPE. Braskem produces UHMW-PE in Camaçari / Brazil, and for just over a year in La Porte, Texas / USA – see Plasteurope.com of 25.01.2017.