The influence of modification by hydroxyapatite (HA) nano- and microparticles on tribotechnical properties of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was investigated to develop polymer implants for endoprosthesis. It was shown that modification of UHMWPE by hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within range of 0.1–0.5 wt.% results in increase of wear resistance at dry sliding by 3 times. On the other hand adding of 20 wt.% of micron size HA gives rise to the same effect. The effect of increasing wear resistance is not substantially changed at surface treatment of the nano- and microcomposites by N+ion beams as compared with nonirradiated blends. Preliminary joint mechanical activation of UHMWPE powder and fillers results in more uniform distribution of nanofillers in the matrix and, as a result, formation of more ordered structure. Structure within bulk material and surface layers was studied by means of optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It is shown that adding of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and high-energy surface treatment of the composite by N+ion implantation improve tribotechnical properties of UHMWPE due to formation of chemical bonds in the composite (crosslinking) and ordering of permolecular structure.

This research investigated the influence of silicon dioxide (SiO2) with particle size of 5 micron on microstructure, mechanical properties and wear resistance of UHMWPE polymeric composite materials under dry sliding friction that was tested by Block–on–ring technique according to ASTM G77. Bulk UHMWPE composite specimen was reinforced with SiO2 particles by weight fraction of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt.%. Specimen was performed by hot compression process with the compression forming conditions at the temperature of 202°C, pressure of 9.7 MPa and exposure time of 77 minutes. It was found that, SiO2 particle fraction in the range of not exceed than 0.5 wt.% did not affect to change microstructure of the specimen, which its microstructure did not significantly different from the initial UHMWPE specimen due to SiO2 particles were dispersed uniformly in the UHMWPE matrix. Its microstructure appeared in a spherulitic structure pattern. However, the increasing of SiO2 more than 0.5 wt.% affect to changed microstructure due to the SiO2 particles separated from the matrix and accumulated on the UHMWPE matrix. For the case of mechanical and wear resistance properties, the increasing of SiO2 particle of 0.5-1 wt.% affect to increased various mechanical properties to have a highest value and lowest wear rate as compared with initial UHMWPE up to 1.7 times. After that, the increasing of SiO2 particle affect to mechanical properties and wear resistance were decreased, except for the hardness that continuously increased according to the increasing of SiO2.

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This paper studies the influence of work conditions, difference compression load and counterface roughness, on UHMWPE under abrasive wear test without lubrication according to GOST 426-77. It was found that the formation of deep and wide furrows on worn surface and abrasive intensity increased when the number of grit grade was decreased (average grit size increase). The behavior of abrasive wear can be classified as follows: the first characteristic volume loss quickly increases in the beginning of running time about 5-15 minutes, which is referred to as “run-in” wearing stage; the second characteristic volume loss regularly increases after running time about 15 minutes, which is approaching to “steady-state” wearing stage. In addition, the abrasive wear intensity increase with increasing compression load and/or decreasing number of grit grade (average grit size increase). The results of this research can be applied to abrasive applications in mechanical engineering.