Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study on Tribological Properties of Irradiated Crosslinking UHMWPE Nano-Composite

  • Published:
Journal of Bionic Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been widely used as a bearing material for artificial joint replacement over forty years. It is usually crosslinked by gamma rays irradiation before its implantation into human body. In this study, UHMWPE and UHMWPE/nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) composite were prepared by vacuum hot-pressing method. The prepared materials were irradiated by gamma rays in vacuum and molten heat treated in vacuum just after irradiation. The effect of filling n-HA with gamma irradiation on tribological properties of UHMWPE was investigated by using friction and wear experimental machine (model MM-200) under deionized water lubrication. Micro-morphology of worn surface was observed by metallographic microscope. Contact angle and hardness of the materials were also measured. The results show that contact angle and hardness are changed by filling n-HA and gamma irradiation. Friction coefficient and wear rate under deionized water lubrication are reduced by filling n-HA. While friction coefficient is increased and wear rate is reduced significantly by gamma irradiation. The worn surface of unfilled material is mainly characterized as adhesive wear and abrasive wear, and that of n-HA filled material is mainly characterized as abrasive wear. After gamma irradiation, the degrees of adhesive and abrasive wear for unfilled material and abrasive wear of n-HA filled material are significantly reduced. Unfilled and filled materials after irradiation are mainly shown as slight fatigue wear. The results indicate that UHMWPE and UHMWPE/n-HA irradiated at the dose of 150 kGy can be used as bearing materials in artificial joints for its excellent wear resistance compared to original UHMWPE.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Xiong D S, Gao Z, Jin Z M. Friction and wear properties of UHMWPE against ion implanted titanium alloy. Surface and Coatings Technology, 2007, 201, 6847–6850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ohta M, Hyon S H, Tsutumi S. Control of crystalline orientation to enhance the wear resistance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene crystallization cups for artificial joints. Wear, 2003, 255, 1045–1050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Affatato S, Bersaglia G, Rocchi M, Taddei P, Fagnano C, Toni A. Wear behaviour of cross-linked polyethylene assessed in vitro under severe conditions. Biomaterials, 2005, 26, 3259–3267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Xiong D S, Ge S R. Friction and wear properties of UHMWPE/Al2O3 ceramic under different lubricating conditions. Wear, 2001, 250, 242–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. McMullin B T, Leung M Y, Shanbhag A S, McNulty D, Mabrey J D, Agrawal C M. Correlating subjective and objective descriptors of ultra high molecular weight wear particles from total joint prostheses. Biomaterials, 2006, 27, 752–757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ren L Q, Liu C Z, Jiang M, Tong J, Zhao Y G, Li J Q. Characteristics and mechanism of abrasive wear of particle reinforced UHMWPE matrix composites. Tribology, 1997, 17, 334–339. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Liu C Z, Ren L Q, Arnell R D, Tong J. Abrasive wear behavior of particle reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene composites. Wear, 1999, 225–229, 199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Lei Y, Guo J L, Zhang Y X. Characteristic analysis of nano-Al2O3 filled ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composites’ worn surface. Lubrication Engineering, 2006, 182, 65–67. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Xiong C X, Chen T, Dong L J, Nan W H. Study on properties of kaolin/quardrupedal crystal whisker of zinc oxide co-filled UHMWPE. Journal of WuHan University of Technology, 2005, 27, 1–3. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tong J, Ma Y H, Arnell R D, Ren L Q. Free abrasive wear behavior of UHMWPE composites filled with wollastonite fibers. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2006, 37, 38–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Li H, Huang C Y, Wang C Y. Friction and wear properties of polypropylene, carbon Black, carbon fiber filled UHMWPE composite. Lubrication Engineering, 2007, 32, 43–46. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Xiong D S, Ma R Y, Lin J M, Wang N, Jin Z M. Tribological properties and structure of UHMWPE after gamma irradiation. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 2007, 221, 315–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Oral E, Muratoglu O K. Radiation cross-linking in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for orthopaedic applications. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2007, 265, 18–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Pruitt L A. Deformation, yielding, fracture and fatigue behavior of conventional and highly cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Biomaterials, 2005, 26, 905–915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kurtz S M, Villarraga M L, Herr M P, Bergstrom J S, Rimnac C M, Edidin A A. Thermomechanical behavior of virgin and highly crosslinked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene used in total joint replacements. Biomaterials, 2002, 23, 3681–3697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Laurent M P, Johnson T S, Crowninshield R D, Blanchard C R, Bhambri S K, Yao J Q. Characterization of a highly cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in clinical use in total hip arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty, 2008, 23, 751–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Manning D W, Chiang P P, Martell J M, Galante J O, Harris W H. In vivo comparative wear study of traditional and highly cross-linked polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty, 2005, 20, 880–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China

    Lei Xiong, Dang-sheng Xiong & Jia-bo Jin

Authors
  1. Lei Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dang-sheng Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jia-bo Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dang-sheng Xiong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xiong, L., Xiong, Ds. & Jin, Jb. Study on Tribological Properties of Irradiated Crosslinking UHMWPE Nano-Composite. J Bionic Eng 6, 7–13 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(08)60102-X

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(08)60102-X

Keywords

Search

Navigation