Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is a relevant thermoplastic in industry and in the biomedical sector. In this work, the lubricant capability of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is used for improving the PEEK wear properties. Nanocomposites were prepared by solvent-free meltblending and injection molding at various compositions between 1 and 10 wt. % of GNPs. The Raman G band shows a progressive increment proportional to the bulk GNP percentage. From calorimetric data, the polymer matrix structure is interpreted in terms of a 3-phase model, in which the crystalline phase fluctuates from 39 to 34% upon GNP addition. Thermal conductivity varies in accordance with the polymer crystallinity. Tensile and flexural tests show a progressive increase in the modulus, as well as a decrease in the fracture strength and the work of fracture. Most important, the composite surface undergoes a substantial improvement in hardness (60%), together with a decrease in the coefficient of friction (-38%) and a great reduction in the wear factor (-83%). Abrasion and fatigue wear mechanisms are predominant at the lowest and highest GNP concentrations respectively. In conclusion, GNPs are used without any chemical functionalization as the filler in PEEK-based materials, improving the surface hardness and the tribological properties.

Electron beam irradiation at doses below 150 kGy is a widely used technique to obtain highly crosslinked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Its current use in total joint replacement components may improve wear resistance and decrease UHMWPE particle debris. However, currently used post-irradiation thermal treatments, which aim to decrease the free radicals within the material, introduce microstructural changes that affect UHMWPE mechanical properties, particularly the fatigue strength. This influence may be crucial in total knee replacements, where fatigue-related damage limits the lifespan of the prosthesis. Therefore, more studies are required to understand UHMWPE fatigue after current crosslinking protocols. This study was planned to evaluate the influence of UHMWPE remelting after irradiation on the material fatigue resistance. The remelting was achieved at 150 degrees C for 2 h on UHMWPE previously irradiated at 50, 100, and 150 kGy. Fatigue evaluation included short-term tests under cyclic tensile stress with zero load ratio, R = 0, and 1 Hz. In addition, stress-life testing was performed using 12% yield as the criterion for failure. Near-threshold fatigue crack propagation experiments were also performed at a frequency of 5 Hz, and crack length was measured in nonthermally treated and remelted irradiated UHMWPE. Crystallinity percentage was calculated from DSC measurements. The results pointed out that irradiation positively contributed to total life analysis, but the further remelting process decreased the flaw initiation resistance. On the other hand, both processes negatively affected the fatigue resistance of notched components. From a clinical point of view, the results suggest that the material fatigue behavior should be carefully studied in new UHMWPE to avoid changes related to material processing.

Fatigue-related damage in UHMWPE is one of the main causes of long-term failure in total joint replacements. Crosslinking ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) by gamma or electron-beam irradiation, in combination with prior or further thermal treatment, enhances its wear resistance against metallic components in total hip replacements, and eventually in knees. However, little information is available on the fatigue response of this modified UHMWPE. The objective of this study was to compare electron-beam-irradiated UHMWPE at 50, 100, and 150 kGy, with the well-known 25 kGy gamma-irradiated UHMWPE. Two different cyclic tests were performed under tensile stress, with a zero load ratio, R = 0. First, specimens were subjected to a sinusoidal load cycle at 1 Hz, which provided stress-life curves with the use of a failure criterion based on 12% yield strain. Second, specimens were tested under 50 load cycles at a displacement rate of 15 mm/min, which provided information about the evolution of secant modulus and plastic strain. The incubation period was also analyzed. DSC measurements were carried out to check the crystallization effect of irradiation. According to the results of fatigue resistance there was a crossover behavior between gamma- and electron-beam-irradiated UHMWPE regarding the applied stress. When the stress was higher than the crossover value, the fatigue resistance of gamma-irradiated samples was higher than electron-beam-irradiated ones. When the stress was lower, the fatigue behavior was the opposite. The crossover stress depended on the electron-beam-irradiation dose. The clinical relevance of this study lies in an improved knowledge of electron-beam-irradiated material under extreme mechanical circumstances, such as fatigue.

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The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the sequential irradiation and annealing process on the microstructure, thermooxidation behavior and mechanical properties of GUR 1050 ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with respect to the postirradiation annealed material. For this purpose, the effects of a variety of irradiation and annealing conditions on microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed to characterize melting temperature, crystalline content and crystal thickness, whereas transmission electron microscopy provided additional insights into crystal morphology. Thermogravimetric experiments in air served to assess thermooxidation resistance and changes associated to radiation-induced crosslinking. Fatigue properties were studied from three different approaches, namely short-term cyclic stress-strain tests, long-term fatigue experiments and crack propagation behavior. Likewise, three experimental techniques (uniaxial tensile test, impact experiments, and load to fracture of compact tension specimens) allowed evaluation of the fracture resistance. The present findings confirm sequentially crosslinked UHMWPE exhibited improved thermooxidation resistance and thermal stability compared to post-irradiation annealed UHMWPE. Also, the mechanical behavior, including the fatigue and fracture resistance, of these materials was generally comparable regardless of the annealing strategy. Therefore, the sequential irradiation and annealing process might provide higher oxidation resistance, but not a significant improvement in mechanical properties compared to the single radiation dose and subsequent annealing procedure.