The Influences of Chemical Modifications on the Structural, Mechanical, Tribological and Adhesive Properties of Oriented UHMWPE Films

Abstract

Preparing a friction pair “polymer-metal” using improved polymeric composites is contemplated a complicated task due to the inert surface of the polymer. Gluing polymer composites with improved mechanical and tribological properties on metals and saving their unique properties at the same time is considered the best way to prepare slide bearing products based on polymer/metal. In this work, ultraviolet initiation is used after a process of mixed acid pre-treatment. The surface of highly oriented films based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) is grafted with nanocellulose. The grafting treatment is analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements. Mechanical T-peel tests showed that the peel strength for the treated UHMWPE films increased by three times, up to 1.9 kg/cm, in comparison to the untreated films. The tensile strength of the treated UHMWPE films decreased by about 6% to 788 MPa. Tribological tests showed that the values of both friction coefficient and wear intensity of the treated UHMWPE films were increased insignificantly, which were 0.172 and 15.43 µm/m·m2, respectively. The prepared adhesive tape based on UHMWPE films, which can withstand a weight of up to 6 kg per 1 cm2 of the bonded surface, has a low coefficient of friction, high wear resistance, and high strength, and is considered a promising material for preparing slide bearing products.