According to Russian media, experts at the Moscow State University of Science and Technology have developed friction-resistant polymeric materials that can be used in freezing temperatures of no less than minus 80 degrees Celsius. Large-scale mining of minerals in the Arctic requires complex industrial equipment and heavy equipment with large friction units. In the so-called cold zone of Yakutia, a low temperature of 67 degrees Celsius was recorded.
According to the Russian "News" website reported on July 2, the climatic conditions of the Arctic put forward stringent requirements on the stability of the equipment. In the case of inconvenient transportation, once the mechanical bearing is damaged by the cold, it may mean a major economic loss. For mining organizations, it is important to use movable parts in machines that can withstand long-term environmental challenges.
According to the report, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene tape developed by Moscow State University of Science and Technology and Biometrix can be attached to the inside of the metal bearing to act as a friction surface. The new material has the characteristics of long life and low temperature resistance (the trait changes only when the temperature is minus 80 degrees Celsius). High chemical inertness guarantees its environmental friendliness.
The report also states that ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is a type of thermoplastic (which can be softened when heated and hardened again when cooled). This plastic consists of long molecular chains that are capable of efficiently transferring and distributing loads inside the material. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is currently used in medical prosthetics and will be used in the future to manufacture bulletproof vests and other areas.