Nanomechanical and tribological behavior of hydroxyapatite reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Abstract

A hydroxyapatite (HA) particulate reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite is fabricated by internal mixer at 180°C and using of paraffin oil as a processing aid to overcome the high viscosity of melted UHMWPE. The reinforcing effects of nano‐HA are investigated on nanomechanical properties of HA/UHMWPE nanocomposites by nanoindentation and nanoscratching methods. Results show that the nanocomposite with 50 wt % nano‐HA exhibits a Young's modulus and hardness of 362.5% and 200% higher, and a friction coefficient of 38.86% lower than that of pure UHMWPE, respectively. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42052.

Non-isothermal melting and crystallization behavior of UHMWPE/SCF/nano-SiO2 hybrid composites

“…By adding paraffin oil into neat UHMWPE, the shortchain oligomers increase the distance between the polymer molecules and lead to higher chain mobility. Thus, the viscosity of the system is lowered significantly to a range that allows melt mixing process [3][4][5]. Overall, the addition of the paraffin oil effectively enhances the poor melt-process ability of the UHMWPE to a level that can be handled by internal mixer machine.…”

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PVA/NaCl/MgO nanocomposites-microstructural analysis by whole pattern fitting method

“…Polymer nanocomposites have emerged as advanced functional materials particularly in biomedical applications, drug delivery, sensors, food packaging and bone tissue substitutes [1][2][3][4].The prudent properties of polymer nanocomposites can be customized by blending metal or metal oxide nanoparticles with the pristine polymer. MgO nanoparticles are of specific interest as they exhibit excellent biocompatibility.…”