Mechanical properties of graphene and nano-diamond reinforced ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Abstract

Nano-material reinforced ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites are generally used as a joint replacement material. An investigation has been done on Hardness and 3-point bending of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) which was loaded with Nano-diamond (ND) and Graphene (Gr). In order to perform some mechanical tests a UTM test equipment and hardness test equipment were utilized. Due to the formation of a good molecular bonding, there is a significant increase in hardness from 51 HV for neat UHMWPE to 57 HV at 0.5 wt% ND loading of ND/UHMWPE nanocomposites and 54 HV at 0.3 wt% Gr loading of Gr/UHMWPE nanocomposites. At 0.5 wt% of Gr loading, the highest value of the flexural modulus (3750 N/mm2) is observed. When 0.5 wt% of Gr and 0.3 wt% of ND is added, then there is a significant increase in ultimate flexural strength and flexural modulus by loading of nano fillers. In this study the fabrication of ND/UHMWPE and Gr/UHMWPE nanocomposites exhibited good mechanical properties and they can be explode for total joint replacement.