Title: Improvement of surface roughness and hardness in UHMWPE through slide burnishing

Authors: César Oswaldo Aguilera-Ojeda; Alberto Saldaña-Robles; Agustín Vidal-Lesso; Juan Francisco Reveles-Arredondo; Ernestina Becerra-Becerra

Addresses: Tecnológico Nacional de México/ITS Irapuato, Silao-Irapuato km 12.5 El Copal, 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, México ' Universidad de Guanajuato, Irapuato-Silao Km. 9, 36500, Ex-Hacienda El Copal, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México ' Universidad de Guanajuato, Salamanca-Valle de Santiago Km. 3.5+1.8, 36885, Comunidad de Palo Blanco, Salamanca, Guanajuato, México ' Universidad de Guanajuato, Salamanca-Valle de Santiago Km. 3.5+1.8, 36885, Comunidad de Palo Blanco, Salamanca, Guanajuato, México ' Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Salvatierra, Manuel Gómez Morin #300, 38933, Comunidad de Janicho, Salvatierra, Gto., México

Abstract: This study evaluates the effect of slide burnishing parameters (burnishing speed, feed and force) on the surface quality of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) cylindrical bars under dry conditions. The objective was to enhance surface roughness (Ra) and Shore D hardness. A face-centred central composite design with 48 experimental samples was analysed using response surface methodology and analysis of variance. Tests were performed on a CNC lathe using a diamond-tip burnishing-tool. The optimal parameters (50 rpm, 267.4 N and 0.01 mm/rev) reduced Ra by 54.4% while the best hardness improvement (6.4%) occurred at 500 rpm and 500 N. Interaction effects between parameters were significant, and a second-order model predicted Ra with an R² = 82.7%. The findings confirm that slide burnishing effectively improves UHMWPE surfaces under dry conditions, offering predictive modelling and practical insights for industrial applications.

Keywords: slide burnishing; surface roughness; Ra; shore D hardness; effect of burnishing parameters; surface quality; ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; response surface methodology; optimal parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2026.154836

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2026 Vol.20 No.2, pp.115 - 130

Received: 12 Nov 2025
Accepted: 21 Feb 2026
Published online: 15 Jul 2026 *

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