Carbon nanofibre-reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for tribological applications

Carbon nanofibre (CNF)-reinforced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites containing up to 10 wt % of nanofibres were prepared by a novel solvent-assisted extrusion process using short chain oligomers to tailor the melt viscosity of the UHMWPE matrix. A detailed investigation of the resulting nanocomposite microstructure and of the static mechanical properties revealed that the carbon nanofibres lead to improved mechanical properties of the UHMWPE related to the wear performance of such systems. Unidirectional sliding tests against a 100Cr6 steel under dry conditions verified the significant potential of dispersed carbon nanofibres to reduce the wear rate of this polymer. In light of the promising results, a further optimization of the processing conditions of such UHMWPE nanocomposites is expected to yield interesting future nanocomposite materials even for demanding applications such as artificial knee implants. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.