As per our Shipping and Returns Policy, custom cuts and fabricated parts are non-returnable. If you need an over- or undersized item, note it under "Comments" during Checkout. Cut-to-size orders have an acceptable cut tolerance of 1/8" (0.125"), so clarify if the adjustment is to be made on the (+) or (-) side of the saw blade.Please review our full return and shipping policy here.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
Since custom cuts and fabricated parts are non-refundable, be very careful while measuring your dimensions. As each cut is nominal, even the slightest miscalculation could be costly.
How to Use a Measuring Tape
Extend your tape measure several inches to find the 1 and 2 inch markers. In between the inch markers you’ll find 16 equally spaced tick marks.
Measure by counting the increments beyond the nearest inch. As the increments decrease, so does the length of the mark. For example, 1/2" has a bigger mark than 1/4" which has a bigger mark than 1/8". The smallest mark follows at 1/16". Please be aware that some measuring tapes may have even smaller increments.
Features of a Measuring Tape: Sliding End Hook
The sliding end hook is designed for two different types of measurements. An outside measurement (where the hook of the tape hangs over an edge), requires the hook to slide out a bit to account for the thickness of the material. When making an inside measurement (where the hook will push up against a surface), the clip slides in, again, accounting for its thickness. The measuring tape self-adjusts to guarantee an accurate measurement (as far as the tape is concerned).
Sanitizing Acrylic and Polycarbonate Sheet [X]
Acrylic and Polycarbonate Sneeze Guards and like products require special care while cleaning and disinfecting. To maintain the optical clarity of sneeze guards and other acrylic or polycarbonate items, use an acrylic or polycarbonate safe cleaner like Novus Plastic Polish #1, Brillianize Plastic Cleaner, or a mild soap solution.
Please reference the following compatible cleaners when DISINFECTING acrylic and polycarbonate items. The use of commonly available commercial alcohol or ammonia-based disinfectants may cause crazing and damage.
High-Visibility Blue UHMW for Food-Contact Wear Components
This blue virgin UHMW-PE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) sheet is a reliable solution for applications requiring exceptional durability, high impact strength, and a very low coefficient of friction.
Blue Virgin UHMW provides the excellent abrasion resistance, impact strength, and low-friction performance associated with natural virgin UHMW. Its distinct blue color supports visual identification and color-coded material handling in food-processing and industrial environments.
Looking for black or recycled options? For non-FDA applications, we also stock Black Virgin UHMW and Reprocessed UHMW (a lower-cost alternative).
Why Choose This Specific Sheet?
This is an industry-standard Virgin grade UHMW in a distinct blue color. It is FDA-compliant for food contact and is the correct choice if you need:
Outstanding Abrasion Resistance:
Designed to reduce the risk of wear in chutes, liners, and strips where materials constantly slide against the surface.
Low-Friction Surface:
Its self-lubricating properties help reduce drag, material buildup, and noise in sliding assemblies.
Impact Strength:
Resilient and resistant to cracking, maintaining its integrity even in low-temperature environments.
FDA Food-Contact Compliance:
Complies with applicable FDA requirements for food-contact applications.
High-Visibility Blue Color:
Provides visual contrast that can support manual inspection, material identification, and color-coded processing operations.
Chemical Resistance:
Highly resistant to most corrosive chemicals, moisture, and acids (excluding oxidizing acids).
UHMW vs. HDPE: Which Do You Need?
While both are polyethylene-based materials, they perform differently based on the application.
Choose Blue UHMW (This Sheet) when sliding abrasion resistance, impact strength, and low friction are the primary requirements.
Choose HDPE when greater rigidity, weldability, or lower material cost is more important. HDPE generally wears faster than UHMW under comparable sliding-abrasion conditions.
Blue UHMW can be cut, drilled, and routed using common woodworking or plastic-machining equipment. UHMW expands with temperature and can deform under clamping pressure, so allow for thermal movement and use appropriate workholding when machining close-tolerance parts. UHMW does not hold fine threads as reliably as stiffer plastics such as acetal; coarse threads, threaded inserts, or through-fasteners may be more appropriate depending on the design.
Handling: Cut sheets may have sharp edges. We recommend wearing protective gloves when unpacking and handling this material to ensure safety.
Suitability: We take pride in the quality of our materials as they leave our facility. However, because every project is unique, we cannot account for how materials are modified, stored, or used after delivery. Please perform the necessary tests to ensure this material is right for your specific application and end-use conditions.
UHMUV SH
Technical Performance
Blue Virgin UHMW is a low-friction, impact-resistant thermoplastic for food-processing, conveying, and industrial wear components requiring FDA food-contact compliance.
Provides excellent sliding abrasion resistance for wear strips, guides, liners, and other components exposed to repeated material movement.
Thermal Resilience:
Standard UHMW typically has a maximum continuous service temperature of approximately 180°F in air.
Friction Performance:
Provides a very low-friction, self-lubricating surface that helps reduce drag, sticking, and material buildup.
Key Properties
FDA Food-Contact Compliance:
Complies with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for applicable food-contact applications.
Impact Strength:
Rated "No Break" on standard Izod impact tests; it absorbs energy without cracking.
Low Moisture Absorption:
Very low water absorption helps minimize moisture-related swelling in wet and frequently washed environments.
Chemical Resistance:
Resistant to many acids, alkalis, cleaning agents, and corrosive chemicals.
Noise Reduction:
Can help reduce impact and operating noise when used in guides, rollers, liners, and other moving assemblies.
Common Industrial Applications
Conveyor Systems: Guide rails, belt scrapers, wear strips, and chain guides that help reduce drag and wear.
Material Handling: Liners for chutes, hoppers, and bins handling grain, sand, and other bulk materials where improved flow and reduced sticking are important.
Food Processing: Augers, mixing paddles, scraper blades, guides, and bottling-line components requiring an FDA-compliant material.
Mechanical Components: Gears, sprockets, idler rollers, and bushings designed to reduce friction, noise, and external lubrication requirements.
Engineering Limitations & Alternatives
While Virgin UHMW is the leader in wear resistance, specific environments may require stiffer or more heat-resistant materials:
Structural Rigidity: UHMW is softer than other engineering plastics and susceptible to "creep" (cold flow) under heavy static loads. Better Alternative: For high-load bearings or structural gears, choose Cast Nylon.
Machining Tolerances: Due to its high coefficient of thermal expansion, it is difficult to hold extremely tight tolerances. Better Alternative: For precision machined parts requiring stiffness, consider Acetal.
High Heat: Standard UHMW has limited stiffness and load-bearing capability at elevated temperatures. Better Alternative: For high-heat wear applications, consider TIVAR® H.O.T. UHMW.
