Tribological properties of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) filled with copper micro‐powder: Tribologische Eigenschaften von mit Kupfer‐Mikropulver gefülltem ultrahochmolekularem Polyethylen. Issue 2 (17th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Y.; Wang, H.; Bhushan, B.; Pei, G.; Wang, H.; Tong, J.; Menon, C.
• Is Part Of: Materialwissenschaft und Werkstofftechnik. Volume 48:Issue 2(2017:Feb.)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2017-02-17
• Subjects: Verbundwerkstoffe -- Polyethylen mit ultrahoher molarer Masse -- Kupfer‐Mikropulver -- mechanische Eigenschaften -- tribologisches Verhalten; Composite -- ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) -- copper micro‐powder (CMP) -- mechanical property -- tribological behavior; Materials -- Periodicals; Materials -- Testing -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1002/mawe.201700547
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0933-5137

Abstract

Abstract : This paper investigates the tribological properties of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) filled with copper micro‐powder (CMP). The fabrication and testing procedures implemented to characterize strength and wear properties of the composite are discussed. The effect of copper micro‐powder concentration on tensile strength, elongation at break, impact resistance, coefficient of friction, and wear resistance of the composite is investigated. Results show that copper micro‐powder concentration of 1 wt% yields the optimal combination of wear resistance and tensile strength of the composite. A morphological analysis based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the copper micro‐powder‐ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene specimens is also discussed. The presence of ridges and plaques on the specimens, analyzed after the sliding wear tests, is attributed to fatigue and adhesion mechanisms. Investigations performed by using an electron probe micro‐analyzer provide evidence that the detachment of copper micro‐powder particles from the matrix during sliding wear tests creates a lubricating layer that drastically decreases the coefficient of friction of the composite and improves its wear resistance properties.