Abstract: Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) microporous materials were prepared by sintering method, and the properties of microporous materials were studied. The forming reason of micropores was gap among particles. The properties of microporous materials were affected by molecular weight, particle siz, packing density, sintering temperature and sintering time. The compressive strength of microporous materials increased with increasing molecular weight of PE-UHMW. The particle size of PE-UHMW powder decided the pore size, the bigger the particle size was, the bigger the pore size was. With increasing sintering temperature and sintering time, the pore size decreased; meanwhile the width of pore size distribution increased.

Key words: ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, microporous material, sintering, filtration, processing condition