Reduces resistance to bulk material sliding along the liner and helps limit retention of wet fines in bins, chutes and flow-guiding areas.
Polymer Mining Liners
Design material performance and liner structure together
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is an engineering polymer with low friction, wear resistance and impact resistance. In mining liners, compound selection is one part of the design: thickness, support, thermal expansion, creep, countersunk holes, edge clearances and fastening also influence performance.
Key Properties and Their Practical Roles
Evaluate friction, impact resistance, wear resistance and maintenance needs by installation zone and failure mode.
Polymer toughness can cushion falling material, but large drop heights, coarse ore and stress around holes still require structural assessment.
Evaluate for linings dominated by sliding abrasion in wet or corrosive environments. Actual wear depends on the material handled and temperature.
Lower density than metal facilitates modular replacement. Control deformation through backing support, fasteners and joint design.
Related Parts
Modified UHMWPE suits selected bulk-flow and sliding-wear zones. It does not replace HPGR roll surfaces, studs or every high-impact metal liner.
HPGR Receiving and Feed Hopper Liners
- Main problems
- Falling-feed impact, sliding abrasion, sticking, embedded particles and stress concentrations around fastening holes.
- Material role
- Reduces friction and sticking while using polymer toughness to withstand controlled impact.
Check drop height, maximum particle size, support structure, finished thickness, hole positions, clearances and thermal expansion.
Bin and Chute Liners
- Main problems
- Fine-material retention, bridging, sliding abrasion, wet-feed adhesion and local impact.
- Material role
- A low-friction surface helps discharge and resists wear within suitable temperature and support conditions.
Select materials separately for impact, sliding and flow-turning zones. High-impact areas may require steel, rubber or composite structures.
Polymer Flow Guides and Transfer-Zone Liners
- Main problems
- Continuous sliding, edge wear, noise, moisture and frequent removal.
- Material role
- Reduce friction, noise and corrosion, with modular plates facilitating maintenance and replacement.
Avoid unsupported areas, overtightening, cracks around holes, and buckling or joint compression caused by temperature changes.
HPGR Liner Project at a Copper Mining Company in Uzbekistan
Project data shows how the material matches real equipment and components; customer requirements and site feedback apply only to this project's operating conditions.
| Information category | Project details |
|---|---|
| Equipment and location | Polymer liners for the HPGR receiving/feed hopper, finished plate thickness 60 mm. |
| Operating conditions | Copper ore 1–63 mm, Mohs hardness about 6, Protodyakonov coefficient f=15, maximum throughput 3,015 t/h, about 22 h/day, drop height about 2.5 m. |
| Material requirement | Modified PE-UHMW, molecular weight not lower than 4.5×10⁶ g/mol, Shore D 60–70. |
| Service life | The previous solution lasted over 2 years on site; the customer required 24 months. |
Structural Design and Manufacturing Checks
Polymer liner performance depends on materials, plate design, machining and installation working as a complete system.
Determine thickness and segmentation from drop impact, unsupported span and substrate stiffness. Avoid large unsupported areas and excessive local deflection.
Check countersunk holes, fasteners, washers, edge distances and preload to avoid stress concentrations, pull-through and creep-related loosening.
Allow expansion clearance for operating temperature, plate length and attachment method, controlling buckling, warping and joint compression.
Distinguish raw-material/plate certificates, sample tests and finished-dimensional inspection. Maintain traceability by batch, drawing and plate position.
Comparison with Other Liner Materials
Select materials for the specific installation position and duty.
| Material Options | More suitable conditions | Main Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Modified UHMWPE | Zones with sticking and sliding abrasion that require low friction, low water absorption and lighter modular liners. | Address temperature, creep, fastening-hole edges and direct impact from large drop heights in the design. |
| Quenched and Tempered Wear Plate | Bins and chutes requiring structural stiffness, load capacity, higher impact resistance and welded attachment. | Greater weight and possible adhesion of wet fines; control welding and low-temperature performance. |
| Wear ceramics / composite plates | Severe sliding abrasion and erosion with controlled impact, good support and reliable attachment. | Brittleness, joints, detachment and direct impact from large lumps require attention. |
| Rubber or Rubber-Metal Composites | Zones requiring impact absorption, noise reduction and cushioning of large material. | Cutting, tearing, temperature, process media and attachment design can limit service life. |
Explore Related Equipment and Parts
Find the relevant HPGR, bin or chute product page to check OEM models, drawing, dimensions and materials.
HPGR High Pressure Grinding Rolls General equipment structures and parts HPGR Feed Chute Liner Feed and receiving-zone parts HPGR Discharge Chute Liners Discharge-zone parts Bin / Chute Wear Bars and Strips General bulk transfer parts Parts and Materials Directory Material overview and quick selection table Röchling Matrox Material Data UHMWPE lining material properties MCAM TIVAR 88 Material Data Bulk material liner properties
Submit liner drawings, feed details and drop conditions
Provide the equipment model, drawing, plate thickness, hole positions, drop height, maximum particle size, throughput, temperature, existing material, failure photographs, quantity and target service life.