Abstract
The influence of nano- and microfillers, including nanofibers and powder of Al2O3 and aluminum oxyhydrides AlO(OH) on the mechanical and tribological characteristics of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is studied. It is found that modification of UHMWPE with nanofibers of Al2O3 within 0.1-0.5 wt % ensures a considerable increase in its hardness and multifold increase in its wear resistance. Modification with ultradisperse powders of Al2O3 (200-500 nm) in the same amounts has an insignificant effect on the polymer characteristics. Filling of UHMWPE with micron-sized particles (3-50 μm) in amounts of 20 wt % results in increased wear resistance of the original polymer, comparable with the wear resistance at low nanofiber content. X-ray diffraction analysis, IR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy are used to show that incorporation of Al2O3 nanofibers into UHMWPE results in the formation of a fundamentally different supermolecular structure in comparison with the use of microfillers.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 371-377 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Friction and Wear |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- coefficient of friction
- nano- and microfillers
- physicomechanical characteristics
- supermolecular structure
- ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene
- wear resistance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanics of Materials
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films