Dependence of Protein Adsorption on Wetting Behavior of UHMWPE-HA-Al2O3-CNT Hybrid Biocomposites

Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is used as an articulating surface in total hip and knee joint replacement. In order to enhance long-term durability/wear resistance properties, UHMWPE-based polymer-ceramic hybrid composites are being developed. Surface properties such as wettability and protein adsorption alter with reinforcement or with change in surface chemistry. From this perspective, the wettability and protein adsorption behavior of compression-molded UHMWPE-hydroxyapatite (HA)-aluminum oxide (Al2O3)-carbon nanotube (CNT) composites were analyzed in conjunction with surface roughness. The combined effect of Al2O3 and CNT shows enhancement of the contact angle by similar to 37A degrees compared with the surface of the UHMWPE matrix reinforced with HA. In reference to unreinforced UHMWPE, protein adsorption density also increased by similar to 230% for 2 wt.%HA-5 wt.%Al2O3-2 wt.%CNT addition to UHMWPE. An important conclusion is that the polar and dispersion components of the surface free energy play a significant role in wetting and protein adsorption than do the total free energy or chemistry of the surface. The results of this study have major implications for the biocompatibility of these newly developed biocomposites.

Morphology, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties of PA6/UHMWPE blends with HDPE-g-MAH as a compatibilizing agent

A functionalized high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with maleic anhydride (MAH) was prepared using a reactive extruding method. This copolymer was used as a compatibilizer of blends of polyamide 6 (PA6) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Morphologies were examined by a scanning electron microscope. It was found that the dimension of UHMWPE and HDPE domains in the PA6 matrix decreased dramatically, compared with that of the uncompatibilized blending system. The size of the UHMWPE domains was reduced from 35 mu m (PA6/UHMWPE, 80/20) to less than 4 mu m (PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH, 80/20/20). The tensile strength and Izod impact strength of PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH (80/20/20) were 1.5 and 1.6 times as high as those of PA6/UHMWPE: (80/20), respectively. This behavior could be attributed to chemical reactions between the anhydride groups of HDPE-g-MAH and the terminal amino groups of PA6 in PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH blends. Thermal analysis was performed to confirm that the above chemical reactions took place during the blending process. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

PA6/UHMWPE/HDPE-g-MAH共混物反应增容作用的研究

通过 DSC、SEM、Molau试验和力学性能测试 ,研究了 PA6/ UHMWPE共混过程中 HDPE- g- MAH对体系的增容作用、力学性能及结晶行为的影响。结果表明 ,共混体系为热力学不相容体系 ;在熔融共混过程中 ,PA6和 HDPE- g- MAH发生化学反应 ,生成的接枝共聚物对 PA6/ UHMWPE体系有增容作用 ,分散性和界面形态以及力学性能明显改善 ;共混体系中两相的结晶行为亦发生变化 ,尼龙组分的熔融热焓明显下降

HDPE、UHMWPE稀溶液成膜的形态结构研究

几十年来，在高分子结晶学领域开展了大量的研究工作，取得了重大进展，但仍存在许多问题有待进一步研究和探讨，特别是有关高分子结晶形成和生长过程，仍是高分子凝聚态的主要研究方向之一。从溶液结晶的ｉＰＰ和ＩＤＰＥ等烯烃类聚合物是高分子物理学中研究最为广泛的课…

PESU-C/UHMWPE共混合金的力学性能

研究了PESU-C/UHMWPE共混合金的力学性能与其组成及相态结构的关系。实验表明,在PESU-C中加入少量UHMWPE不仅极大地改善了PESU-C的冲击性能,而且对拉伸性能和加工流动性也有明显的改善,而UHMWPE含量超过2％时,共混体系的性能有不同程度降低。相态结构分析表明,UHMWPE作为分散相在低含量时以细微的粒子形态均匀分布于PESU-C基体之中,相态结构稳定,体系的力学性能最佳;随着UHMWPE含量的增加,分散相逐渐聚集为微纤状结构,并最终发展为双连续相结构,相态的不稳定性导致了共混体系力学性能降低。

Microabrasion : A novel method to assess surface degradation of UHMWPE following sterilisation and ageing

The ageing behaviour of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been studied following gamma irradiation (25 or 40 kGy) in air. Accelerated ageing procedures used elevated temperature (70°C) and/or pressurised oxygen (5 bar). Shelf-aged UHMWPE was also studied. The variation in surface density and mechanical properties were determined following the various sterilisation and ageing treatments. Microabrasive wear testing was also performed. Wear rates were found to correlate well with stress at break for sterilised and aged UHMWPE but not with elongation to failure. It is proposed that the wear mechanism is fracture dominated and occurs following some disentanglement of the polymer chains. Wear also depends upon embrittlement of the surface layer due to its processing and ageing. Elongation to failure in a tensile test is not a good measure of this embrittlement whereas the microabrasion test provides more surface sensitive information concerning this property.