Review: Tribological behavior of polyethylene-based nanocomposites
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REVIEW
Review: Tribological behavior of polyethylene-based nanocomposites Songbo Xu • X. W. Tangpong
Received: 11 June 2012 / Accepted: 25 August 2012 / Published online: 28 September 2012 Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
Abstract Thermoplastics polyethylene (PE) materials, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), are widely used as bearing materials in industrial applications. UHMWPE, with its superior wear resistance and low-friction surface properties, has also been applied successfully as a key material in artificial knee and hip joint replacements. However, the wear debris generated during the joint motions could cause osteolysis and loosening of the implant, contributing to the main cause for joint revision. Many attempts have been made to improve the wear resistance of PE materials in order to elongate the material’s service life. Various nano-fillers, including carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, nano-alumina, and nano-montmorillonite, have been applied as ideal reinforcing components to modify the tribological properties of PE. This article reviews the current status of research in tribological studies of PE-based nanocomposites, mainly UHMWPE and HDPE nanocomposites, including the types of nano-fillers, fabrication methods, and tribological characterization approaches. The dependence of tribological properties of those nanocomposites on the concentrations and modifications of nano-fillers, and other tribological parameters is summarized; the different wear mechanisms are reviewed. New research directions in this field are proposed.
Introduction A variety of polyethylene (PE) materials, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra high molecular weight S. Xu X. W. Tangpong (&) Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA e-mail: [email protected]
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polyethylene (UHMWPE), and PE-based composites, have been widely used in various industries as bearing materials due to their superb wear resistant property and relatively lower costs [1]. HDPE has vast tribological applications in automotive industry [2], pressure pipes [3], low speed bearings [4], etc. UHMWPE has been commonly accepted as a key material for components in a wide range of industrial applications such as lining for coal chutes, runners for bottling production lines, wear strips, chain guides, etc. [5]. In addition, UHMWPE also has important biomedical applications as a bearing material for total joint replacements. As of 2009, a total of more than 773,000 and 62,000 total joint replacements had been performed in the U.S. and Canada, respectively [6]. It was estimated that by the year 2015 the annual numbers of primary total joint replacements will be greater than 1.8 million in the U.S. [7]. However, the life expectancies of these prostheses have been limited to be within 25 years [8]. Since more and more young people are in need of artificial joints for various reasons, for example, sports injuries, and along with the
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