Abstract
In this study the friction, wear and surface mechanical behavior of medical-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) (GUR 1050 resin) were evaluated as a function of polymer crystallinity. Crystallinity was controlled by heating UHMWPE to a temperature above its melting point and varying the hold time and cooling rates. The degree of crystallinity of the samples was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A higher degree of crystallinity in the UHMWPE resulted in lower friction force and an increase in scratch resistance at the micro- and nanoscales. On the nanoscale, the lamellar structure appeared to affect the observed wear resistance. Reciprocating-wear tests performed using a microtribometer showed that an increase in crystallinity also resulted in lower wear depth and width. Nanoindentation experiments also showed an increase in hardness values with an increase in sample crystallinity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1401-1410 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Acta Biomaterialia |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Financial support for this study was provided by a National Science Foundation Grant (Grant No. CMS0409625) and a seed Grant from US-DOE Ames Laboratory.
Keywords
- Crystallinity
- Friction
- Total joint replacements
- Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
- Wear