Experimental Studies on The Tribology Behavior of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene /Zeolite Nanocomposite

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mianeh, East Azerbaijan Branch Technical and Vocational of University (TVU), Mianeh, Iran

Abstract

In this research article, the effect of zeolite nanoparticles on the tribological properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which are widely used in orthopedic implants, and its nanocomposites have been studied. Improving the tribological properties of this polymer is one of the medical industry challenges which has an important effect on the lifetime of orthopedic implants. Nanocomposites based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene blend, containing 2 to 6 wt. % of nano-zeolite were prepared via melt compounding followed by injection molding. The morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The wear rate and contact temperature of specimens, as well as friction coefficient, were characterized by employing a pin on disk wear test under 50 N and sliding velocity of 0.5 m/s. The wear rates, contact temperature, and friction coefficient of nanocomposite containing 4 wt. % of nano-zeolite, were 56, 32, and 26%, respectively, lower than those of neat ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. In contrast, the application of 6 wt. % of nano-zeolite led to agglomeration and increased wear, temperature, and coefficient of friction compared to nanocomposite samples. In addition, the morphology of nanocomposite samples, after testing, revealed a smoother surface with mild abrasion marks than that of pure ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sample.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] S.M. Kurtz, The UHMWPE handbook: ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in total joint replacement, Elsevier, 2004.
[2] H. Stein, Engineered Materials Handbook, Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), 1999.
[3] X. Dangsheng, Friction and wear properties of UHMWPE composites reinforced with carbon fiber, Materials letters, 59(2-3) (2005) 175-179.
[4] Y.-S. Zoo, J.-W. An, D.-P. Lim, D.-S. Lim, Effect of carbon nanotube addition on tribological behavior of UHMWPE, Tribology Letters, 16(4) (2004) 305-309.
[5] K. Plumlee, C.J. Schwartz, Improved wear resistance of orthopaedic UHMWPE by reinforcement with zirconium particles, Wear, 267(5-8) (2009) 710-717.
[6] B.-P. Chang, H.M. Akil, R.B.M. Nasir, Comparative study of micro-and nano-ZnO reinforced UHMWPE composites under dry sliding wear, Wear, 297(1-2) (2013) 1120-1127.
[7] D. Xiong, J. Lin, D. Fan, Wear properties of nano-Al2O3/UHMWPE composites irradiated by gamma ray against a CoCrMo alloy, Biomedical Materials, 1(3) (2006) 175.
[8] E.A. Aksoy, B. Akata, N. Bac, N. Hasirci, Preparation and characterization of zeolite beta–polyurethane composite membranes, Journal of applied polymer science, 104(5) (2007) 3378-3387.
[9] J.Y. Lee, M.J. Shim, S.W. Kim, Effect of natural zeolite on the mechanical properties of epoxy matrix, Polymer Engineering & Science, 39(10) (1999) 1993-1997.
[10] Z. Lv, K. Wang, Z. Qiao, W. Wang, The influence of modified zeolites as nucleating agents on crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of polypropylene, Materials & design, 31(8) (2010) 3804-3809.
[11] B.P. Chang, H.M. Akil, R.M. Nasir, Mechanical and tribological properties of Zeolite-reinforced UHMWPE composite for implant application, Procedia Engineering, 68 (2013) 88-94.
[12] G. Chow, R.S. Bedi, Y. Yan, J. Wang, Zeolite as a wear-resistant coating, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 151 (2012) 346-351.
[13] R. Mohsenzadeh, H. Majidi, M. Soltanzadeh, K. Shelesh-Nezhad, Wear and failure of polyoxymethylene/calcium carbonate nanocomposite gears, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 234(6) (2019) 811-820.
[14] R. mohsenzadeh, K. Shelesh-Nezhad, Experimental studies on the durability of PA6-PP-CaCO3 nanocomposite gears, Journal of Science and Technology of Composites, 3(2) (2016) 147-156.
[15] S. Sahebian, S. Zebarjad, S. Sajjadi, The effect of temperature and nano-sized calcium carbonate on tensile properties of medium density polyethylene; Asare dama va nanozarat karbonat kalsium bar khavase kesheshi polietilene ba chegali-e motavaset, Polymer Science and Technology, 21(2) (2008) 133-140.
[16] S. Bhattacharya, M. Kamal, R. Gupta, Polymeric nanocomposites: theory and practice., 2008.
[17] X. Kong, S. Chakravarthula, Y. Qiao, Evolution of collective damage in a polyamide 6–silicate nanocomposite, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 43(20) (2006) 5969-5980.
[18] M.M. Haque, M. Hasan, TiO2 and zeolite nanopowder enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 34(3) (2021) 382-395.
[19] R. Soenoko, A. Suprapto, Y.S. Irawan, Impact fracture toughness evaluation by essential work of fracture method in high density polyethylene filled with zeolite, FME Transactions, 44(2) (2016) 180-186.
[20] E. Ghobadi, M. Hemmati, G. Khanbabaei, M. Shojaei, M. Asghari, Effect of nanozeolite 13X on thermal and mechanical properties of Polyurethane nanocomposite thin films, International Journal of Nano Dimension, 6(2) (2015) 177-181.
[21] B.L. Lee, L.E. Nielsen, Temperature dependence of the dynamic mechanical properties of filled polymers, Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Physics Edition, 15(4) (1977) 683-692.
[22] C.-M. Chan, J. Wu, J.-X. Li, Y.-K. Cheung, Polypropylene/calcium carbonate nanocomposites, polymer, 43(10) (2002) 2981-2992.
[23] A. Kiss, E. Fekete, B. Pukánszky, Aggregation of CaCO3 particles in PP composites: Effect of surface coating, Composites science and technology, 67(7-8) (2007) 1574-1583.
[24] A. Egorenkov, Effect of crystallization on the frictional properties of polymers, Polymer Mechanics, 14(6) (1978) 800-803.
[25] A. Cotet, M. Bastiurea, G. Andrei, A. Cantaragiu, A. Hadar, Dry Sliding Friction Analysis and Wear Behavior of Carbon Nanotubes/Vinylester Nanocomposites, Using Pin-on-Disc Test, REVISTA DE CHIMIE, 70(10) (2019) 3592-3596.
[26] T. Xu, N. Liao, Y. Xu, M. Nath, Y. Li, Y. Chen, S. Sang, In situ detoxification and mechanical properties of Al2O3-Cr2O3-CaO castables with zeolite, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 41(1) (2021) 978-985.
[27] X. Wang, X. Niu, X. Wang, X. Qiu, L. Wang, Effects of filler distribution and interface thermal resistance on the thermal conductivity of composites filling with complex shaped fillers, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 160 (2021) 106678.
[28] W.A. Lee Sanchez, C.-Y. Huang, J.-X. Chen, Y.-C. Soong, Y.-N. Chan, K.-C. Chiou, T.-M. Lee, C.-C. Cheng, C.-W. Chiu, Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Composites Filled with Al2O3/Boron Nitride Hybrids for Underfill Encapsulation Materials, Polymers, 13(1) (2021) 147.
[29] U. Uyor, A. Popoola, O. Popoola, V. Aigbodion, Effects of titania on tribological and thermal properties of polymer/graphene nanocomposites, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 33(8) (2020) 1030-1047.
[30] S.-C. Shi, X.-N. Tsai, S.-S. Pek, Tribological behavior and energy dissipation of hybrid nanoparticle-reinforced HPMC composites during sliding wear, Surface and Coatings Technology, 389(15) (2020) 125617.
[31] M. Zhang, X. Wang, X. Fu, Y. Xia, Performance and anti-wear mechanism of CaCO3 nanoparticles as a green additive in poly-alpha-olefin, Tribology International, 42(7) (2009) 1029-1039.
[32] M.A. Ashraf, W. Peng, Y. Zare, K.Y. Rhee, Effects of size and aggregation/agglomeration of nanoparticles on the interfacial/interphase properties and tensile strength of polymer nanocomposites, Nanoscale research letters, 13(1) (2018) 214.
[33] Y. Zare, Study of nanoparticles aggregation/agglomeration in polymer particulate nanocomposites by mechanical properties, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 84 (2016) 158-164.
[34] N. Sapiai, A. Jumahat, M. Jawaid, C. Santulli, Abrasive Wear Behavior of CNT-Filled Unidirectional Kenaf–Epoxy Composites, Processes, 9(1) (2021) 128.
[35] L. Chang, Z. Zhang, L. Ye, K. Friedrich, Tribological properties of high temperature resistant polymer composites with fine particles, Tribology international, 40(7) (2007) 1170-1178.
[36] L. Chang, Z. Zhang, H. Zhang, A. Schlarb, On the sliding wear of nanoparticle filled polyamide 66 composites, Composites Science and Technology, 66(16) (2006) 3188-3198.
[37] L. Chang, Z. Zhang, Tribological properties of epoxy nanocomposites: Part II. A combinative effect of short carbon fibre with nano-TiO2, Wear, 260(7-8) (2006) 869-878.
Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 10
January 2022
Pages 5159-5168

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics