UHMWPE can be made through any catalyst technology, although Ziegler catalysts are most common. Because of its outstanding toughness and its cut, wear and excellent chemical resistance,
UHMWPE is used in a diverse range of applications. These include can and bottle handling machine parts, moving parts on weaving machines, bearings, gears, artificial joints, edge protection on ice rinks and butchers' chopping boards.

UHMWPE used for the construction of articular portions of implants used for hip and knee replacements. As fiber, it competes with aramid in bulletproof vests.

Performance:
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) for its viscosity-average molecular weight of 1.5 million -1200 Wan (ordinary polyethylene 2-3 million) given its superior performance:
1. Abrasion
UHMW-PE wear Habitat plastic crown, and abrasion resistance with a molecular weight of more than proportional to certain metals, UHMW-PE, the higher the molecular weight, the better the wear resistance.
2. Impact resistance
Impact strength of UHMW-PE, in the forefront of all engineering plastics fame, impact strength UHMW-PE is 2 times the PC, ABS, 5 times, 10 times more than the POM and PBTP. Impact strength increase with increasing molecular weight, maximum molecular weight of 2,200,000 when in, and then continues to rise with the molecular weight gradually decreases.
3. The self-lubricating
UHMW-PE has a low coefficient of friction (0.05-0.11), it is an excellent self-lubricating properties. Second only to the best self-lubricating plastic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the absence of lubrication; when it is working to form a sliding or rotating, than steel and brass lubrication lubrication even better.
4. chemical resistance
UHMW-PE has excellent chemical resistance, in addition to strong fluorinated acid, but at a certain temperature and concentration ability of corrosive media (acids, bases, salts) and organic media (except tea solvent). Immersed in 80 kinds of organic solvents 20  and 80 in 30 days, without the appearance of any anomaly, other physical properties are almost not change.
5. The impact energy absorption
UHMW-PE having excellent impact energy absorption, the impact energy absorption maximum in all plastics. Thus noise damping is very good, with excellent sound deadening effect.
6. Health non-toxic
UHMW-PE health non-toxic, fully compliant with the Japanese Health Association, and the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture approved, can be used in contact with food and drugs.
7. nonstick
UHMW-PE surface adsorption force is very weak, and its anti-adhesion ability not only to plastic viscosity best PTEE, thus the product surface adhesion with other materials is not easy.
8. hydrophobic
UHMW-PE, low water absorption, typically less than 0.01%, only 1% PA6, thereby forming generally do before drying.