Properties of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Produced by Cyclic Impact Compaction and Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Polymer-based composites represent a special class of materials in demand by the industry. In comparison with other polymers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is characterized by exceptionally high wear and impact resistance. There are different technologies for producing bulk material from UHMWPE powder and from its mixtures with various reinforcing additives. In this work, samples for research were made by cyclic impact compaction (CIC), graphene nanoplatelets and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were the reinforcing nanofillers. Nanoscale detonation carbon (NDC) produced by the detonation decomposition of acetylene was employed as a graphene nanofiller. The obtained samples were subjected to a wear test, and their hardness and tensile strength were measured. Studies have shown that the reinforcement of UHMWPE with NDC and SWCNTs leads to an increase in its hardness by 6.4% and 19.6%, respectively. With the same nanofillers, the wear resistance when rubbing against a steel ball rises by 1.13 and 1.63 times, and the coefficient of friction drops by 10% and 20%, respectively. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of UHMWPE drops by 11.7% and 40.4%, and the elongation by 11.9% and 30.1% when reinforcing UHMWPE with NDC and SWCNTs, respectively.