Wear performance of UHMWPE reinforced with basalt fibre for total disc replacement

Abstract

For total disc replacement (TDR), wear of the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearing surface is the common cause for failure. Wear of UHMWPE plays an important role in determining the life span of TDR implants. In order to obtain materials with improved wear resistance and improved mechanical characteristics basalt fibre of 5wt. %, 10 wt. %, 15 wt. % and 20 wt. % is added with UHMWPE. The wear tests were conducted on a pin-on-disk tribometer. The specimens thus prepared were subjected to hardness tests, tensile testing and wear testing. The results indicated that the hardness increased with increasing percentages of basalt fibre content, and the tensile strength of the specimens increased until 15% of additive content and post that it decreased thereafter, Wear tests indicated a decrease in wear with increase in additive content as the coefficient of friction decreased considerably.