Abstract
Graphene oxide/ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (GO/UHMWPE) nanocomposite is a potential and promising candidate for artificial joint applications. However, after irradiation and accelerated aging, the mechanical and tribological behaviors of the nanocomposites are still unclear and require further investigation. GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites were successfully fabricated using ultrasonication dispersion, ball-milling, and hot-pressing process. Then, the nanocomposites were irradiated by gamma ray at doses of 100 kGy. Finally, GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites underwent accelerated aging at 80°C for 21 days in air. The mechanical and tribological properties of GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites have been evaluated after irradiation and accelerated aging. The results indicated that the incorporation of GO could enhance the mechanical, wear, and antiscratch properties of UHMWPE. After irradiation, these properties could be further enhanced, compared to unirradiated ones. After accelerated aging, however, these properties have been significantly reduced when compared to unirradiated ones. Moreover, GO and irradiation can synergistically enhance these properties.
Highlights
Ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) is considered as being suitable bearing materials for orthopedic implants [1] because it has excellent properties including good wear resistance, exceptional toughness, a lower friction coefficient, and good biocompatibility [2]
It can be clearly seen from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images that incorporation of Graphene oxide (GO) into UHMWPE matrix has a dramatic influence on the surface topography of UHMWPE
The results indicate that the incorporation of GO shows a slight increase in Coefficients of friction (COF) values of GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites, compared to the samples without adding GO
Summary
Ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) is considered as being suitable bearing materials for orthopedic implants [1] because it has excellent properties including good wear resistance, exceptional toughness, a lower friction coefficient, and good biocompatibility [2]. In crystalline phase of polyethylene, residual free radicals can react with oxygen and result in oxidation degradation of UHMWPE during shelf aging or after implantation [7, 8], which greatly affect mechanical and tribological properties. Accelerated aging methods are used to evaluate potential for long-term oxidation resistance of the polymer in air. It is found that the optimum 0.5 wt% GO content for the nanocomposites can effectively improve GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites performance, compared to pure UHMWPE [23] These important results give important insights into GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites, the influence of gamma-irradiation and accelerated aging on antiwear and mechanical properties of GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites has rarely been reported. The mechanical and tribological properties of GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites are studied after gamma-irradiation and accelerated aging
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