Recently, relying on self-developed new polyethylene production processes and proprietary catalysts independently researched by SINOPEC, SINOPEC Yangzi Petrochemical has successfully developed and stably rolled out ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a molecular weight of over 10 million through continuous production lines.
Key performance indicators of the finished products have reached internationally advanced levels. This milestone enriches Yangzi Petrochemical’s portfolio of high-end polyolefin products and fills the domestic technical blank of mass-producing UHMWPE via continuous processes supported by fully self-developed catalysts. The breakthrough delivers robust backing for the upgrade of China’s industrial chain and supply chain of high-end polyolefin new materials.
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is a thermoplastic engineering plastic with outstanding comprehensive performance, widely adopted in high-end manufacturing sectors including aerospace, marine engineering and new energy equipment. Specifically, UHMWPE with a molecular weight of 10 million stands out with remarkable advantages in wear resistance, impact resistance and chemical corrosion resistance; in addition, the material can be recycled and reused circularly for sustainable manufacturing.
To realize this technical breakthrough, Yangzi Petrochemical set up a special research task force that overcame multiple core technical barriers, including scaled-up batch preparation of new-type catalysts. The team formulated detailed schemes covering trial operation, product inspection and adjustable plans for intermediate product performance. The whole manufacturing workflow is managed with strict control over critical process nodes, alongside rigorous monitoring of operating technical parameters and product quality standards throughout production.
