"Enhanced Wear Characteristics of UHMWPE Composite Reinforced with Nano ZnO: Experimental Investigation and Microstructural Analysis"

Abstract

This work aims to study how Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites reinforced with various concentration of nano ZnO (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) wear under dry conditions. The track radius was maintained at 50 mm during the wear tests, which were run for a total of 660 seconds under various load and sliding speed conditions. With the intention of examining the impact of nano ZnO on the wear properties of the composite, the wear parameters examined include specific wear rate, wear loss, and coefficient of friction (COF). The findings show that adding nano ZnO causes specific wear rate, wear loss, and COF to decrease. The UHMWPE composite's wear resistance gets better as the amount of nano ZnO rises. Due to the increased load-bearing capacity offered by the nano ZnO reinforcement, specific wear rate, wear loss and COF have decreased. Nano ZnO particles serve as a protective barrier, minimising wear by decreasing contact between the sliding surfaces. The results also show that greater applied loads and sliding speeds tend to increase the values of wear rate, wear loss and COF. The contact pressure and frictional forces become more intense along with the increase in load and speed, which results in more material removal and more resistance to sliding motion. Reduced groove diameters and plastic flow, as shown by microstructural examination of the worn surfaces, point to increased load-bearing capacity and deformation resistance. Nano ZnO strengthens the composite matrix and makes it easier for a smoother wear surface to develop, which in turn increase the total wear resistance of the PMC.