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Processing of hydroxyapatite reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for biomedical applications
Liming Fang1, Yang Leng, Ping Gao
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract:
A new method for processing hydroxyapatite/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HA/UHMWPE) composite has been developed by combining wet ball milling and swelling. Sintered HA particles were ground in ethanol to approximately 50 nm in diameter. The nano-sized HA particles were mechanically mixed with UHMWPE in the ball mill and then compression molded into solid slabs. The slabs were then swollen in a pharmaceutical grade paraffin oil to enhance the UHMWPE chain mobility and HA/UHMWPE interface adhesion before final hot press. The resultant composite exhibits a two-zone network structure formed by a homogeneous HA-rich phase and a UHMWPE-rich phase. This process resulted in a 90% increase in Young's modulus and a 50% increase in the yield strength of HA/UHMWPE composite, comparing with those of unfilled UHMWPE.
