Pin‐on‐disc evaluation of self‐reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) for total joint replacements

Abstract

Femoral components of hip replacements are commonly anchored in the femur with bone cement or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Wear or fracture of bone cement can lead to loosening of the femoral component, which drastically affects the success and longevity of hip replacements. Self-reinforced composite PMMA (SRC-PMMA) has been previously developed for potential use, as a precoat material for hip replacements. The composite consists of high strength fibers that have been shown to have greatly improved mechanical properties over bulk PMMA. The goal of this work was to examine SRC-PMMA for improved wear properties, as a function of processing temperature. Pin-on-disc tests were used to characterize and rank the wear rates of SRC-PMMA and PMMA. Composites made with higher processing temperatures had significantly lower wear rates than do PMMA at a significance level of p < or = 0.05. The lowest wear rate was 8.2 microg/m, at a processing temperature of 136 degrees C, compared to a wear rate for PMMA of 13.3 microg/m. At the lowest processing temperature (105 degrees C), a wear rate higher than PMMA was found, and failure was dominated by fiber delamination. In the more completely processed samples (122 degrees C < or = T < or = 150 degrees C), wear rates were equivalent to or better than PMMA, and smoother and more homogenous wear was noted in wear tracks. Fatigue cracks were prominent at higher processing temperatures or when the wear pin was riding orthogonal to fibers. Wear particles were collected and examined. Wear particle diameter and aspect ratio showed no correlation to processing temperature, but were similar to particles retrieved from human tissue samples.

Correlation of mechanical and optical properties of polypropylene plastic waste for application in composite panels

“…The thermoplastics can be sourced from both recycled and virgin materials. Different technologies have been applied for the development of single polymer composites from some thermoplastic polymers, such as polyethylene (Jordan, Olley, Bassett, Hine, & Ward, 2002), polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (Rojanapitayakorn, Mather, Goldberg, & Weiss, 2005), polyethylene naphthalate (Hine, Astruc, & Ward, Hot Compaction of Polyethylene, 2004), polyamide (Hine & Ward, 2006), polymethyl methacrylate (Peers, Wright-Charlesworth, & Miskioglu, 2006), and liquid crystal polymers (Pegoretti, Zanolli, & Migliaresi, 2006).…”

The effect of processing conditions on the mechanical properties and morphology of self-reinforced wood-polymer composite

“…Self‐reinforced polymers have been presented in many literatures as potential alternative materials to conventional polymer products. A range of technologies have been presented in literature to develop single polymer from various thermoplastic polymers, such as polyethylene , polypropylene , polyoxymethylene , polylactides , and poly(methyl methacrylate) . In recent years, the molecular orientation of fiber filled polymer composites was also studied.…”

Single polymer composites by partially melting recycled polyamide 6 fibers: Preparation and characterization

“…From then on, different thermoplastic polymers, including PE,18–25 PP,26–31 PET,32, 33 and PMMA,34 were exploited to manufacture SPC by partially melting. Polyamide (PA) is a widely applied general plastic with high strength and good fatigue resistance.…”