Design of Wear-Resistant UHMWPE-Based Composites Loaded with Wollastonite Microfibers Treated with Various Silane Coupling Agents

Abstract

<jats:p>The tribomechanical properties of the wear-resistant ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites loaded with wollastonite microfibres silanized with various coupling agents (“KH-550”, “Penta-1006”, and “OTS”) were investigated. It was demonstrated that the mechanical properties of UHMWPE-based composites filled with various amounts of wollastonite (7–23 wt. %) increased by 1.3 times (yield strength) and by 1.8 times (elastic modulus), while the wollastonite silanization further improved yield strength by 9% in some cases. It was demonstrated that the composite loaded with 23 wt. % wollastonite silanized with the “KH-550” coupling agent possessed the maximum wear resistance under “moderate” conditions of tribological loading. Under “severe” conditions, the composites containing 23 wt. % wollastonite silanized with the less efficient “OTS” and “Penta-1006” agents showed the greatest wear resistance during dry sliding friction. Wear resistance significantly depended on filler weight fraction and the load–speed mode of the tribological tests. Based on the obtained experimental data on the mechanical (including impact toughness) and tribological properties of the UHMWPE-based composites loaded with wollastonite, the optimal compositions (the filler content and the type of the coupling agent) for two load–speed modes were designed using the developed computer algorithm. The composites provided the predefined high tribomechanical properties for operation in the metal-polymer friction units compared to neat polymer.</jats:p>

Preparation, characterization, and feasibility study of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites as an artificial joint component with enhanced hardness, impact strength, tribological and biological performance

“… 23 In addition, the poor adhesion of fillers to the matrix materials caused by large agglomerates resulted in the fillers falling off the matrix under impact force, which significantly reduced the impact strength of the composite material. 24 Thereby, the impact strength of the composite material was reduced when the content of fillers exceeded the appropriate range.…”

Study on the Impact of a Combination of Synthetic Wollastonite and 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole-Based Fillers on UHMWPE Polymeric Matrix

“…In addition, one of the common ways of dispersing fillers is the use of mechanical activation in a planetary mill, which is due to the simplicity and universality of the method [48][49][50][51]. Also, there are alternative ways of dispersing agglomerates using laser treatment [52] and additional modification of nanoparticles by adhesion promoters and surfactants [20,[53][54][55]. These methods include a supplement of additional stages in the composite production, which in turn complicates the process.…”

“…Depending on the method, synthesis conditions, and initial reagents, the formation of wollastonite particles of differing morphology is observed. The use of wollastonite as a filler for UHMWPE was considered in the following works [19][20][21][22], where a significant increase in material strength and wear resistance was achieved. However, there is a challenge of coupling with a polymeric matrix due to weak interphase interaction.…”

Effects of reinforcements and gamma‐irradiation on wear performance of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene as acetabular cup liner in hip‐joint arthroplasty: A review

“…Silicate minerals such as montmorillonite (MMT), 56,153,154 kaolin, 155 and zeolite 156–158 and calcium carbonate, 159 wollastonite 160,161 are the promising fillers that greatly leads to the reinforcing effect in UHMWPE due to their outstanding mechanical properties. The silicate‐based reinforcements act as nucleating agent in UHMWPE matrix which initiate heterogeneous crystallization, thus changing the morphology of the polymer and conferring significant changes in mechanical properties.…”

“…Tong et al reported a 19% reduced wear volume of UHMWPE polymer incorporated by saline treated wollastonite fibers relative to unmodified fiber composites with an optimal content of 10 wt.% 167 . Panin et al 161 found that the UHMWPE‐23 wt.% silanized wollastonite composite is more wear resistant than other composites loaded with <23 wt.% of wollastonite.…”