Advances in the Processing of UHMWPE-TiO2 to Manufacture Medical Prostheses via SPIF

Abstract

This research focuses on developing a novel ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material reinforced with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles for producing craniofacial prostheses via an incremental sheet forming process (SPIF). First, UHMWPE-TiO 2 nanocomposite sheets were produced using incipient wetting and the compression molding process by considering different concentrations of TiO 2 nanoparticles. Then, the influence that the compression molding fabrication process has on the crystallinity and structural properties of the produced sample sheets was investigated. Experimental characterizations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), tensile mechanical testing, and live/dead cell viability assays provided data that show an enhancement of the physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Finally, modifications on the nanocomposite material properties due to the SPIF manufacturing processes of a craniofacial prosthesis are addressed.

Post-Forming Mechanical Properties of a Polymer Sheet Processed by Incremental Sheet Forming: Insights into Effects of Plastic Strain, and Orientation and Size of Specimen

“…Although its invention was initially meant to shape the metallic materials [ 3 , 4 ], recent reports on the successful fabrication of thermoplastic components have unfolded a new research domain in the ISF process [ 5 , 6 ]. In fact, traditional processing of polymers relies on the shape dependent dies and heating-cooling cycles [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Melt- vs. Non-Melt Blending of Complexly Processable Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Cellulose Nanofiber Bionanocomposite

“…The UHMWPE peak was seen to exhibit sharp increase of crystalline peak befitted long and unbranched polymer crystalline structure and arrangement [ 76 , 77 ], while CNF peak shows semi crystalline pattern indicating existence of crystalline and amorphous region of the cellulose chains [ 78 , 79 ]. Additionally, all polymer and bionanocomposites samples exhibited similar pattern with two prominent diffraction peaks centered at around 22.0° and 24.4° of 2θ, which correspond to (110) and (200) reflection of polyethylene in orthorhombic phase [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. The diffraction peak of the filler could not be observed due to low percent loading [ 81 , 83 ] and overlapped peak of UHMWPE with CNF at around 22° in 2θ, which was in agreement with reported studies involving nanocellulose filler in polyethylene matrix [ 40 , 84 ].…”

“…Additionally, all polymer and bionanocomposites samples exhibited similar pattern with two prominent diffraction peaks centered at around 22.0° and 24.4° of 2θ, which correspond to (110) and (200) reflection of polyethylene in orthorhombic phase [ 80 , 81 , 82 ]. The diffraction peak of the filler could not be observed due to low percent loading [ 81 , 83 ] and overlapped peak of UHMWPE with CNF at around 22° in 2θ, which was in agreement with reported studies involving nanocellulose filler in polyethylene matrix [ 40 , 84 ]. Reduction in amorphous region was observed between 18° to 21° for samples fabricated through melt blending suggesting an improvement in chain entanglement and improved crystallinity stemmed from chain scission occurrence [ 54 , 55 ].…”

Application of the Finite Element Method to the Incremental Forming of Polymer Sheets: The Thermomechanical Coupled Model and Experimental Validations

“…Using a semi-analytical model, Medina-Sánchez et al [ 12 ] proposed a semi-analytical model to predict the incremental forming force for polymers and compare the results with experimental measurements and numerical simulations. The last research works study novel polymeric materials and applications, for example, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material reinforced with nanoparticles of TiO 2 developed by Ortiz-Hernández et al [ 13 ], or the composite based on PA matrix and clay filler studied by Borić et al [ 14 ].…”