FRICTION AND WEAR OF ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE AGAINST VARIOUS NEW CERAMICS

The friction and wear behaviour of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene against new ceramic materials has been investigated. Cylinder-on-flat and pin-on-flat tests were conducted at constant sliding speed and load in the presence of a liquid lubricant (Ringer solution). The wear rate of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene was lower when slid against zirconia- or alumina-based ceramics than against pure alumina couples. Using scanning electron microscopy, it has been shown that wear particles are transferred from polyethylene to the ceramic counterface during the wear test. This transfer affected both the friction coefficient and the wear rate of the polyethylene. The wear mechanisms of polyethylene are analysed.