THE BLAST EROSION BEHAVIOR OF ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE

The erosive wear behaviour of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene ( UHMWPE) was tested by an air-borne particle erosion equipment. The e ffects of impact angle, velocity and the particle hardness on the eros ive wear of UHMWPE were demonstrated. By scanning electronic microscop y (SEM), the worn surface morphology was analyzed. The plastic deforma tion and microcracking are the main erosion mechanisms of UHMWPE under normal impacting. Microcutting and microploughing are the main erosio n mechanisms when impacting at lower angles. The erosion mechanism is associated with the applied erodents. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. A ll rights reserved.