A new processing method, high velocity compaction (HVC), is particularly adapted to process ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In a previous study, it has been shown that UHMWPE processed by HVC exhibits superior Young's modulus and significant ductility, owing to the preservation of nascent high crystallinity and high-quality sintering (Jauffres et al., Polymer 2007, 48, 6374). In this article, a comparative study of yield, creep, and wear properties of HVC-UHMWPE and compression-molded UHMWPE is reported. HVC-UHMWPE has an enhanced resistance to plastic deformation, likely due to its particular microstructure that improves its wear resistance. Concerning creep resistance, HVC-UHMWPE also exhibits enhanced performances thanks to its higher crystallinity. Consequently, HVC could be a new mean to improve UHMWPE performance for a wide range of applications, requiring high wear resistance, both in industrial and biomedical fields. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci I 10: 2579-2585, 2008