Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Research Articles

Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Composite Based on Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Acidic Media

In this work, the effect of an acidic environment on the structure of composite samples based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) modified with mineral filler in the form of diabase (DB) is studied. The stability of samples was investigated in solutions of sulfuric (H₂SO₄) and hydrochloric (HCl) acids with concentrations of 10 vol% and 20 vol% at room temperature for 16 weeks. It was found that the introduction of 10 wt% DB into the UHMWPE matrix significantly increases the resistance of the composite sample to aggressive media, which is confirmed by the minimum degree of swelling compared to pure UHMWPE and composites with higher filler content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated a uniform distribution of DB in the sample structure and the absence of defects such as agglomeration and cracks. The methods of infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and X-ray structural analysis (XRD) revealed a decrease in the degree of crystallinity of the samples after acid exposure, but no significant changes in the chemical structure of the materials were recorded, which confirms their resistance to chemical degradation. The best chemical resistance was demonstrated by composites containing 10 wt% DB, which is associated with the formation of a barrier structure preventing the diffusion of acids. The obtained results indicate the promising application of UHMWPE with DB filler to create samples resistant to aggressive media.

Synergistic enhancement of the dynamic impact damage resistance and energy absorption of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene fiber reinforced composites with multiple plasma modification

AbstractThe study reveals the dynamic impact damage resistance and energy absorption of oxygen/argon/nitrogen multiple plasma modified ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber reinforced composites. The interface bonding properties and impact resistance of the composite were studied by microsphere debonding test, low‐velocity and high‐velocity impact test. The modified parameters are optimized based on quadratic polynomial equation. The impact resistance of the composite was evaluated from the aspects of ballistic limit velocity, failure mode and energy dissipation mechanism. The results showed that compared with untreated composites, the depth of dents and damage area of multiple plasma modified composites were reduced by 43.53% and 11.73%, respectively. The energy absorption and limit velocity of high‐velocity impact were increased by 14.64% and 25.58%, respectively. The modified composites formed an energy dissipation mechanism dominated by fiber breakage. The impact damage resistance and energy absorption of UHMWPE fiber reinforced composites were enhanced with multiple plasma modification.Highlights Multiple plasma modification enhance synergistic energy absorption of composites. The optimum treatment parameters of composites plasma modification were analyzed. Interface bonding properties were evaluated from microscopic perspective.

Collagen Co-Braids Demonstrate Equivalent or Superior Physical Properties to Conventional Orthopedic Sutures

While conventional high strength orthopedic sutures are made from synthetic materials, here we present a novel collagen co-braid with a unique composition of approximately 50 wt% type I collagen fibers and 50 wt% Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and has been shown to have biostimulative properties including encouraging angiogenesis, stimulating new tissue formation, and enhancing biointegration. Here, we tested and compared critical physical properties of collagen-UHMWPE co-braids and industry-leading conventional high strength orthopedic sutures across several measures including knotted tensile strength, knot security, knot profile, and abrasiveness to tissue. In all of these assessments, collagen co-braids were shown to exhibit equivalent or superior performance characteristics, with a notably reduced abrasiveness to tissue, compared to conventional high strength UHMWPE sutures of corresponding sizes. This study concludes that collagen co-braids provide sufficient mechanical properties for the high demands of orthopedic procedures while incorporating a biological component.

Study on Cut‐Resistance Properties of Composite Yarn Based Knitted UHMWPE Textiles: Influence of Reinforcement, Radiant Heat Exposure, Outdoor Environment, and Cutting Angles

ABSTRACTThe safety of workers in hazardous environments depends on personal protective clothing capable of withstanding various real‐world challenges, especially in automotive, glass, aerospace, mining, construction, and food industries where cut hazards are prevalent. Ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight‐polyethylene (UHMWPE) is widely utilized in cut‐protective textiles for its exceptional strength and durability. This study investigates the cut‐performance of stainless‐steel and glass fibers reinforced UHMWPE knitted fabrics under real‐world industrial conditions, focusing on the influence of varying cutting angles, outdoor environments, and thermal exposure on their cut‐protective efficacy. Reinforcement significantly improved cut‐performance, with stainless‐steel reinforced UHMWPE fabric (13SU) exhibited the highest tear strength (lengthwise‐313.1 N, widthwise‐405.8 N) and abrasion resistance (withstanding up to 800 rubbing cycles), providing best cut‐protection with cutting force of 32.43 N at 90° cutting angle. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterizations revealed UHMWPE's sensitivity to thermal effects, with a significant decrease in crystallinity after exposure to radiant heat flux of 20 kW/m2 at fabric surface, leading to diminished cut‐performance. Environmental durability assessments indicated a reduction in cut‐resistance properties due to changes in the chemical composition of UHMWPE polymer structure, such as the presence of ketone (CO) and hydroxy (OH) polar groups, as confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

In Situ Polymerization and Synthesis of UHMWPE/Carbon Fiber Composites.

Carbon-fiber-reinforced composites of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are not easily prepared because of their high viscosity, although they can be advantageous in advanced engineering applications due to their superior mechanical properties in combination with their low specific weight and versatility. Short polyacrylonitrile-based carbon-fiber-reinforced UHMWPE composites with fiber contents of 5, 10, and 15 wt.% could easily be prepared using in situ ethylene polymerization. Therefore, MgCl2 was generated at the Brønsted acidic groups of the fiber surface by employing a reaction between the co-catalysts Mg(C4H9)2 and AlEt2Cl. Titanation with TiCl4 resulted in a catalyst directly on the fiber surface. The catalyst polymerized ethylene (2 bar pressure at 50 °C), forming a UHMWPE matrix near the surface; its fragmentation led to polymer particles associated with the fiber. The catalyst activity on the fiber surface of untreated (CF-Pr, 3.48 ± 0.24 wt.%) and oxidized fibers (CF-Ox, 7.41 ± 0.03 wt.%) was 20% lower. CF-Pr compression-molded samples showed tensile strengths of up to 50.4 ± 1.3 MPa, while CF-Ox samples reached 39.1 ± 0.6 MPa, surpassing the performance of composites prepared by melt compounding. The stiffness of 1.58 ± 0.17 GPa for a melt-compounded material was lower than the 3.24 ± 0.10 GPa for CF-Pr and 2.19 ± 0.07 GPa for CF-Ox composites. A fracture examination showed fiber pull-outs, matrix residues on the fibers, and the formation of some extensional polymer fibrils. The latter explains the higher stress at yield and the breakage of the CF-Pr based composites in particular. The potential of in situ polymerized UHMWPE composites for the utilization in high-performance structural applications is thus demonstrated.

Advanced fabrication of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ graphite nanoplates foam for enhanced oil–water separation and thermal insulation via a novel omnidirectional gas escape barrier mechanism

Advanced fabrication of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/ graphite nanoplates foam for enhanced oil–water separation and thermal insulation via a novel omnidirectional gas escape barrier mechanism

The injection molding of large industrial ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene products: A microbeam WAXD/SAXS investigation of the impaction of bimodal polyethylene on the structure and mechanical properties

The injection molding of large industrial ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene products: A microbeam WAXD/SAXS investigation of the impaction of bimodal polyethylene on the structure and mechanical properties

In vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Cell Viability of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene for 3D-printed Artificial Joint Manufacturing

<i>In vitro</i> Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Cell Viability of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene for 3D-printed Artificial Joint Manufacturing

Analysis of bulletproof performance of structurally optimized ceramic composite armor through numerical simulation and live fire test

This work aims to address key issues in the ballistic performance of ceramic-based composite armor, particularly at the joints of spliced ​​bulletproof panels. The edge structure of C/C-SiC ceramic plates and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is redesigned to superimpose the joint areas. These structurally optimized composite pads are examined by numerical simulation of impact dynamics to understand their anti-penetration performance whose accuracy is then validated by live fire tests. The results reveal that (1) the ceramic plates with improved edge design enhance the anti-penetration efficiency, (2) the established dynamic constitutive model of penetration resistance effectively predicts the ballistic performance of the armor pad, and (3) inability to penetrate high-speed real bullets through the armor suggests that the ballistic performance fully meets the protection requirements of the MIL-A-46103EIII Class 2 A standard. In this regard, structural regulation of the shape of the ceramic-based composite plates allows for the design of lightweight armor with improved bulletproof capability.

Enhancing meniscal repair with tough adhesive puncture sealing (TAPS) suture: A proof-of-concept study on bovine cadaveric knees.

The objective was to use cyclic tensile loading to compare the gap formation at suture site of three different suture materials to repair bovine radial meniscal tears: (1) polyglactin sutures, (2) tough adhesive puncture sealing (TAPS) sutures and (3) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sutures. Twelve ex vivo bovine knees were dissected to retrieve the menisci. Complete radial tears were performed on 24 menisci, which were then separated into three groups and repaired using either pristine 2-0 polyglactin sutures, TAPS sutures (2-0 polyglactin sutures coated with adhesive chitosan/alginate hydrogels) or 2-0 UHMWPE sutures with a single stitch. The repaired menisci were clamped onto an Instron machine and underwent cyclic loading between 5 and 25 N at a frequency of 0.16 Hz. Gap formation between the edges of the tear was measured after 500 cycles using an electronic caliper, when the meniscus was still on the Instron without any load applied. Mean gap formation was 5.22 mm (±1.70) for the 2-0 polyglactin sutures, 2.48 mm (±0.25) for the TAPS sutures, and 4.85 mm (±1.55) for the 2-0 UHMWPE sutures. The gap was significantly smaller in the TAPS sutures group compared to the two others because of better force dispersion, decreasing tissue damage by suture indentation and potentially leading to better meniscal healing. From a biomechanical standpoint, coated sutures held the edges of radial meniscal tears closer together compared to conventional sutures. This technology has the potential to reduce tissue damage and improve the success rate of meniscal repairs. controlled laboratory study.

Review of rope coating research: Mechanism, application, and future directions

This article first introduces several different types of coating mechanisms and their application environments, including wear-resistant coatings, anticorrosive coatings, waterproof coatings, and flame-retardant coatings. It then introduces several fiber materials used for ropes, including carbon fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene pipe (UHMWPE) fiber, aramid fiber, and steel wire, and gives an analysis and summary of their properties and applications. Furthermore, the current progress of coating research on these four fiber ropes is discussed in detail. Finally, the article summarizes the deficiencies in the relevant research fields and looks forward to their future development directions.

Synthesis of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylenes with New Catalyst Based on Ti4+ Complex with a Tridentate Phenoxyimine Ligand

Synthesis of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylenes with New Catalyst Based on Ti4+ Complex with a Tridentate Phenoxyimine Ligand

Effect of Fibre Type and Fabric Structure on Composite Materials Under Ballistic Shock Impact

This study analysed the effect of fibre type and fabric structure on the behaviour of aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE) composite plates under ballistic shock loading. A specific test system that simulates a ballistic shock wave was prepared in this context. Aramid composite plates are reinforced with three types of fabric structure, while UHMW PE composite plates are reinforced with a single fabric structure. The plates were cured in an autoclave. The ballistic explosion behaviour of composite plates was evaluated in terms of trauma depth, trauma diameter and absorbed energy at the ballistic limit. The results of the ballistics tests showed that GS3000-reinforced composites demonstrated the highest energy absorption. In contrast, UHMW PE composite plates exhibited higher ballistic energy absorption on a unit-weight basis than other plates. UHMW PE fabric-reinforced composites showed approximately 30% higher energy absorption per unit area density than other composites. Biaxial aramid fabric composite plates exhibited 10% higher energy absorption per unit area density than woven aramid fabric composite plates. Additionally, UD-aramid GS3000 reinforced composite demonstrated the lowest trauma depth of all tested composites, showing 90% less trauma depth than UHMW PE fabric-reinforced composites.

Effect of binary Al-Ni alloy on the rate of abrasive wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

The paper investigates the influence of the content of Al-Ni alloy quenched from the molten state on the abrasive wear rate of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene on rigidly attached abrasive particles. Studies have shown that the addition of 5–30 mass% of the quenched aluminum alloy to ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene reduces the rate of abrasive wear by ~50%. The improvement of this indicator is due to the high values of microhardness, dislocations density, and microstresses of rapidly quenched Al-Ni alloys.

Characterization and Rheological Properties of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylenes.

The molecular characteristics and rheological properties of three UHMWPE samples were investigated. The high-temperature GPC method was used for characterizing UHMWPE samples used. The interpretation of the measurement results was based on calibration using the PS standard and the approximation of the PS data by linear and cubic polynomials, as well as on the data for linear PE. The assessment of the average MW and MWD depends on the choice of calibration method, so that different methods give different results. Only the results obtained using PS with cubic approximation are close to the characteristics offered by the manufacturer. It was also shown that the obtained MW characteristics depend on the dissolution time. The reason for this may be the presence of any processing-aid compounds or destruction of macromolecules. Measurements of the rheological properties were performed in creep modes for a wide range of shear stresses and harmonic oscillations. It was shown that even at 210 °C, UHMWPE does not flow, and the observed irreversible deformations are due to the plasticity of the polymer, i.e., UHMWPE is in an elastic-plastic state. The ultimate plastic deformations drop sharply with increasing MW of the polymer. The plasticity modulus for the highest molecular weight UHMWPE samples does not depend on stress. Measurements of viscoelastic characteristics confirmed that the terminal region of viscous flow cannot be reached under any conditions. Increasing the duration of holding the polymer at high temperature leads not to flow, but to the destruction of macromolecules.

Annealing-induced high impact toughness of isotactic polypropylene realized by introducing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Annealing-induced high impact toughness of isotactic polypropylene realized by introducing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

Suture tapes show superior biomechanical properties and greater meniscal healing compared to conventional sutures in posterior meniscal root tear repairs: A systematic review.

This study aims to perform a systematic review to determine whether ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tapes have superior biomechanical properties compared to conventional sutures in posterior meniscal root tear (PMRT) repairs, and whether this translates into superior clinical outcomes. The Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, PubMed and Embase were used to perform a systematic review using the following search terms: (meniscus OR meniscal) AND (root OR posterior horn) AND (suture OR tape OR wire OR cord). Data pertaining to certain biomechanical properties (load to failure, stiffness, displacement during cyclical loading and at failure), meniscal healing and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were extracted. Seven biomechanical and two clinical studies were included. There were 232 knees for biomechanical testing: 81 with UHMWPE tapes and 151 with conventional sutures (133 with UHMWPE sutures and 18 with Ethibond [Ethicon]). Testing set-up was similar across studies, but there were differences in repair techniques, including suture configuration, location and method of fixation. In general, the consensus was that tapes had a higher load to failure and stiffness, with similar displacement at failure to that of UHMWPE sutures. A similar trend was also observed when tapes were compared to Ethibond, except for FiberTape (Arthrex). This particular UHMWPE tape showed greater displacement during cyclical loading, resulting from knot slippage. Clinically, there were 73 patients, 41 with UHMWPE tapes and 32 with either UHMWPE sutures (n = 18) or braided polyester sutures (n = 14). Tapes led to greater meniscal healing 1 year postoperatively, with PROMs similar across groups. UHMWPE tapes generally demonstrated superior biomechanical properties compared to conventional sutures in PMRT repairs with a simple stitch configuration. However, further biomechanical studies are required to determine the extent to which tapes contribute to the repaired construct, especially with more complex repair configurations, as the existing evidence displayed a notable amount of methodological heterogeneity. Level IV systematic review of level IV evidence.

Effective Use of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Cable and Krackow Suture for Stretched Out Patellar Tendon due to Scarring in a Case with Rheumatoid Arthritis Post-Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Patellar tendon rupture is a severe complication following total knee arthroplasty. We encountered a case of rheumatoid arthritis with an incomplete rupture of the patellar tendon post-total knee arthroplasty. An 84-year-old woman was diagnosed with an incomplete rupture of the right patellar tendon 3 months post-total knee arthroplasty of her right knee. The patient exhibited a 45° extension lag 6 months post-total knee arthroplasty, necessitating reconstruction surgery. Intraoperative findings revealed incomplete rupture of the patellar tendon that was stretched out, diagnosed as incomplete patellar tendon rupture. Due to knee valgus instability (passive knee valgus showed 20°), the thickness of the tibial insert was adjusted from 11 mm to 15 mm, resulting in improved valgus instability. The scarring region of the patellar tendon was resected to 10 mm in length, and the tendon was repaired using an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene cable (Nesplon cable) and Krackow suture. The repair was secured by making a figure-8 pattern with the cable. After the reconstruction surgery, the knee was immobilized at 0° extension for 3 weeks, followed by the initiation of range-of-motion exercises. Three months later, the extension lag was reduced to -15°, and the patient could walk without orthosis and reported neither instability nor surgical site infection at 8 months after the surgery. In conclusion, this case is notable due to the rarity of incomplete (stretched out) patellar tendon rupture post-total knee arthroplasty and demonstrates the effectiveness of Nesplon cable with Krackow suture in reconstruction surgery.

Fabrication and properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene/polyester composite yarn

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers are recognized as an exemplary material due to their exceptional mechanical properties. Nevertheless, the inherent surface inertia and the absence of functional groups result in suboptimal adhesion to resin matrices, thereby restricting their extensive application within the field of composite materials. This study investigates the composite effects of UHMWPE fibers modified with tannic acid (TA), a polyphenolic compound prevalent in natural flora, in conjunction with polyester. The bonding effect between the resultant composite yarn and resin coating is assessed through the evaluation of tensile strength, abrasion resistance and apparent properties of the composite yarn. The results indicate that at a twist of 300 T/m, the breaking strength of tannic acid-modified UHMWPE/PET (TA-UHMWPE/PET) yarn increases by 108.16% and 40.77% compared to un-twisted UHMWPE and UHMWPE/PET, respectively. At 350 T/m, the abrasion cycle count is 2.46 times greater than that of UHMWPE/PET, with only a difference of 51 cycles compared to UHMWPE/UHMWPE. Following bonding with resin, the surface of TA-UHMWPE/PET yarn exhibits improved smoothness and a reduction in surface voids. This method offers numerous advantages, including environmental sustainability, non-destructive processing and potential for industrial applications.

Surface Modification of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene and Applications: A Review.

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is often considered an ideal reinforcing material due to its extraordinary characteristics like high abrasion resistance, excellent toughness, and chemical stability. However, the poor surface properties have significantly hindered the progress of UHMWPE with high performance. This review is intended to introduce the physicochemical mechanisms of UHMWPE interfacial property modification. Therefore, this review provides a concise overview of the progress in diverse surface modification techniques for UHMWPE and their strengths and limitations as polymer reinforcement materials. Lastly, an overview of the potential and challenges of each surface modification has been summarized.