Effects of gamma irradiation and accelerated aging on GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article investigates irradiated and accelerated aged graphene oxide (GO)/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites. The prepared GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites are gamma-irradiated at a high irradiation dose in a vacuum and then accelerated aging procedure is performed at 80°C in an air oven for 21 days. Irradiated and aged samples are characterized by Raman spectrum, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle, and gel content. Filling GO reduces the intensity of Raman spectrum of UHMWPE and irradiation or aging cannot affect vibrational modes of UHMWPE and GO/UHMWPE. The result of the FT-IR spectrum shows that UHMWPE and GO/UHMWPE basically have the same oxidation index values, whether with irradiation or accelerated aging. Irradiation or aging can slightly increase the melting temperature. GO, irradiation, or aging can significantly increase the crystallinity and improve wetting properties. In irradiated GO/UHMWPE, GO is able to maintain the efficiency of the cross-linking. However, after aging, the cross-linking density of GO/UHMWPE is reduced significantly. According to the above results, it is proposed that GO shows a very weak scavenging free radicals capacity in GO/UHMWPE composites and cannot display antioxidant capacity.