Abstract
This work aims to improve mechanical behavior of microwave-assisted compression (MAC) molded nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composite using ultraviolet (UV) C radiation exposure. The UHMWPE/nHA composite specimens were molded at 10%, 15%, and 20% weight fraction of nHA. The UV C radiation of intensity 0.025 J/cm2 was applied to the molded specimens of neat UHMWPE and UHMWPE/nHA composites. The UV C exposure resulted in increase of Young’s modulus, Vicker’s hardness, ultimate tensile strength, and flexural strength of neat UHMWPE by 46%, 84%, 6%, and 7%, respectively. Similar properties of UHMWPE/nHA composite decreased due to restricted mobility by nHA particles during crystallization effect caused by UV C radiation exposure. A 36% increase in the degree of crystallinity (DOC) was recorded after UV C radiation exposure on neat UHMWPE. At the same time, the DOC of UHMWPE/nHA composite decreased after UV C exposure. The cross-linking in UHMWPE was examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cellular compatibility of specimens was examined under human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) environment. It was found that UV C radiation exposure did not produce any adverse effect on the cellular compatibility of the composite specimens.
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