PROPERTIES OF SELF-REINFORCED ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

The physical properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (U HMWPE) fibre/UHMWPE matrix composites have been characterized. It was found that the tensile strength and modulus, and creep resistance, wer e significantly increased after incorporating UHMWPE fibres into a UHM WPE matrix. The longitudinal tensile strength of the resulting self-re inforced composite increased with fibre content, according to the law of mixtures. The transverse strength did not change for fibre content of up to 7%. The double-notch impact strength of the composites was hi gher than plain UHMWPE. There was no difference in wear properties bet ween the composites and plain UHMWPE. The cross-section and tensile fr acture surfaces of the composites were examined by scanning electron m icroscopy (SEM). Overall results indicate that the self-reinforced UHM WPE composites may be good candidates for load-bearing biomedical appl ications. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.