Comparison of Mechanical and Tribotechnical Properties of Polymer Composites Made of UHMWPE Powders of Different Size.

The key set of mechanical and tribotechnical properties of UHMWPE composites fabricated from polymer powder particles of different size (units and tens of microns) was measured and analyzed. It is shown that specimens of neat UHMWPE grades GUR4120 and GUR2122 are characterized by close values of wear resistance at mild triboloading parameters PV = 18 and 30 N m/s. Also, filled composites based on two polymer matrices with different initial powder sizes have almost identical wear resistance at all used triboloading conditions. The role of permolecular structure and crystallinity degree in development of tribochemical processes at the friction surface in terms of providing tribotechnical properties of UHMWPE composites is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]