The effect of IPN surface modification on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE

This paper investigates the effect of IPN surface treatment on the mechanical properties of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Traditional UHMWPE was modified by introducing poly-L-lysine (PLL) into their surface and forming a semi-interpenetrating network (IPN). Tensile, creep and fatigue tests were performed on these IPN and the control specimens. The tensile and creep results show that the IPN modification did plasticize the UHMWPE in that it decreased modulus and strength, increased ductility, and degraded creep resistance. However, these property changes are not so large as to be unacceptable. In the fatigue tests, there were no failures of control nor IPN samples up to 10 million cycles.