Title: The biotribological behaviour researches on the α-tocopherol-doped and gamma-irradiated UHMWPE

Authors: Zifeng Ni, Shirong Ge

Addresses: Biotribology Center State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Institute of Tribology and Reliability Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, PR China. ' Biotribology Center State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Institute of Tribology and Reliability Engineering, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, PR China

Abstract: The effect of antioxidant α-tocopherol on the mechanics and wear of UHMWPE was investigated. It is shown that the UHMWPE doped with α-tocopherol increases its crystallinity and hardness but decreases its gel content. Incorporation of α-tocopherol increases the elastic and plastic properties of the irradiated UHMWPE sample. Accelerated aging results in severely deterioration of the mechanical properties of irradiated UHMWPE samples. But the α-tocopherol doped UHMWPE sample shows good anti-oxidation property. Wear resistance of α-tocopherol doped irradiated UHMWPE sample was much better compared to the irradiated UHMWPE sample.

Keywords: irradiated UHMWPE; ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; biotribology; alpha-tocopherol; cross-linking; oxidation; antioxidants; mechanics; wear; crystallinity; hardness; gel content; elasticity; plasticity; accelerated aging.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2010.033250

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.227 - 236

Published online: 14 May 2010 *

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