Düsseldorf/Germany, April 2026 – With Lubmer and Mipelon, Mitsui Chemicals offers two UHMW-PE families that, thanks to their ultra-long molecular chains, meet significantly higher requirements for sliding properties and wear resistance than conventional polyolefins. These cutting-edge plastics can be used in a wide range of applications where the much heavier PTFE was previously the material of choice, but which do not require its high heat resistance. In addition to excellent sliding properties, combined with high abrasion resistance and low noise levels during relative motion, the advantages of Lubmer and Mipelon in use also include good chemical resistance, low density and water absorption, as well as high flexibility and low-temperature impact strength.

Granules for injection molding and extrusion
The Lubmer PE-UHMW family includes granules with varying melt viscosities for applications ranging from injection molding to the extrusion of sheets, plates, profiles, and hoses. In injection molding, both hot runner technology and tunnel gate inserts can be used. In addition to the highly abrasion-resistant standard grades L3000, L4000, and L5000, Lubmer L5220 offers self-lubricating properties. The TM-80B grade has enhanced weather resistance, making it suitable for sliding applications in the automotive industry, for example.

In addition, Lubmer LY1040 is formulated as a PFAS-free additive that is compatible with most engineering plastics. It can completely replace PTFE as a modifier to improve sliding properties even at addition levels as low as 3% to 5%. It also significantly increases the wear resistance of many engineering plastics, while leaving other performance properties virtually unaffected. LS4140 and LS4120 are ready-to-use PA-based compounds that also enhance strength. Together with the PA masterbatch grade LY4100 for dry dosing at the injection molding machine, they round out the Lubmer portfolio.

Fine powders for thermoplastics, rubbers, paints, and coatings

Mipelon is a family of spherical UHMW-PE fine powders from Mitsui Chemicals. The average particle diameters of these additives range from as low as 10 µm (Type PM-200) to 30 µm (XM-220) and up to 65 µm (XM-330). In all applications, they improve sliding properties and abrasion resistance at temperatures up to 120 °C. When used in hydrocarbon oil, the special grade PM200C is suitable for temperatures up to 200 °C.

Compared to PTFE fine powders, Mipelon grades not only feature a spherical shape that offers tribological advantages but also exhibit significantly narrower particle size distributions. At the same time, the proportion of large particles is low. Both factors ensure better dispersibility and very uniform surfaces. At the same dosage, this often results in a lower coefficient of sliding friction and higher abrasion resistance than with PTFE. Even when compared to PA11 and PA12 as well as PE waxes, the sliding friction and abrasion values decrease significantly over the long term.

Like Lubmer, Mipelon is characterized by its high chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, and organic chemicals, as well as its low water absorption. The main applications for grades with small particle diameters are therefore chemically resistant surface coatings, including powder, water-, and solvent-based spray and dip coatings. Newly developed products include spherical powder grades with even smaller particle diameters of < 5 µm and 6 µm, which, for example, enable a further improvement in lubricity and abrasion resistance in coating applications. The grades with larger particles are more suited for use as additives in rubbers and thermoplastics, for example for applications in the food industry or as anti-blocking additives for films. All grades are suitable for food contact according to EU and US regulations.

Mitsui Chemicals Europe GmbH is the European subsidiary of the Mitsui Chemicals Group, a Japanese, globally active chemical manufacturer and supplier of high-value-added specialty chemicals and plastics. For more than 100 years, Mitsui has been offering products and services that enhance people’s lives in a wide range of sectors, including automotive, electronics/IT, healthcare/medical, packaging, agriculture, construction/materials, and environment/energy.

Further information:
MITSUI CHEMICALS EUROPE GmbH, Helmholtzstraße 19, D-40215 Düsseldorf
Claus Hartmann, Technical Sales Manager EMEA
Tel. +49-151/2219 8806, claus.hartmann@mcie.de

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