As a national strategic emerging industry, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber industry is developing rapidly

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber belongs to the third generation of high-performance fiber, which refers to fibers spun from polyethylene resin with a molecular weight of more than 1 million.

According to the “2022-2027 Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Industry In-depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Suggestions Report released by the Industrial Research Center It shows that the raw materials of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber are polyethylene, decalin, white tea, paraxylene, etc. According to statistics from the China Chemical Economic and Technological Development Center, my country’s polyethylene production reached 22.72 million tons in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 11.8%. Benefiting from the increased supply of upstream raw materials, my country’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber output is growing.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber has the advantages of wear resistance, corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, and good hydrophobic properties, and is widely used in military and civilian scenarios. In the field of military protection, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber can be used to manufacture armor protective panels, body armor, radar protective shell covers, bulletproof helmets, bulletproof vests and other products. The civilian field is the largest demand end for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, which is mainly used to produce home textiles, clothing, sports equipment and other products.

The preparation process of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber can be divided into two categories: dry method and wet method. The dry process uses decalin with low boiling point and high volatility as the solvent. The raw materials and solvent are mixed in a twin-screw extruder, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers are made through heating, cooling, stretching and other processes. This method has the advantages of simple production process and high production efficiency, and is a mainstream preparation method for leading overseas companies. The production of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber in my country is mainly based on the wet process. This method mixes raw materials with white oil and produces products through processes such as extrusion, water bath cooling, and drying. It has the advantages of simple equipment operation and low technical difficulty.

At present, the global ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber production capacity is concentrated in European and American countries. The Netherlands and the United States are the largest producers. Honeywell of the United States and DSM of the Netherlands are the world’s leading high molecular weight polyethylene fiber companies. In the early stages of industry development, my country’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber market was monopolized by overseas companies. However, in recent years, affected by the international situation and national policies, local ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber manufacturers have continued to break through technical barriers and gradually gained advantages in the mid-to-high-end field, including Beijing Tongyizhong New Materials, Shandong Nanshan Zhishang, Jiangsu Jiujiu Long wait.

Industry analysts said that as a national strategic emerging industry, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber has gained wide popularity in many fields due to its performance advantages. application. As market demand is gradually released, the scale of my country’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber market will further expand. Driven by positive factors such as national policy support and technological innovation, my country’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber production companies will gradually break overseas monopolies, and the market localization rate will further increase.