Processing and Mechanical Properties of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Reinforced by Silver Nanoparticles

The present study was designed to investigate the mechanical performance of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) reinforced by silver nanoparticles. The Ag/UHMWPE nanocomposites were prepared by a plate vulcanizing machine and tested with a contact angle micrometer, UMT friction tester, electronic universal testing machine and MicroXAM three-dimensional profilometer to characterise the wettability, ball indentation hardness, creep resistance, compression properties, and friction and wear performance. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to describe the morphology of the Ag/UHMWPE nanocomposites surfaces following the friction and wear tests. These results demonstrate that the compressive yield strength, ball indentation hardness and creep resistance increased with an increase in the content of silver nanoparticles. The contact angle of the Ag/UHMWPE nanocomposites with bovine calf serum decreases with an increase in the content of silver nanoparticles and this change increases the wettability of the Ag/UHMWPE nanocomposites. Therefore, the friction coefficient decreases, but the wear mechanism changes from scratch and furrow to fatigue flakes when the mass fraction of silver nanoparticles exceeds 0.3%. The composite with a silver nanoparticles mass fraction of 0.3% exhibits a low friction coefficient and good wear resistance.