Properties of compression molded ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene products pretreated by eccentric rotor extrusion

Abstract

Abstract Low processing efficiency and fusion defects limit the application of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in artificial joint implants. These problems result from the high melt viscosity of UHMWPE. Here, we use an eccentric rotor extruder (ERE) based on elongational flow to pretreat UHMWPE. Compression molded UHMWPE is obtained without and with ERE pretreatment (EP‐UHMWPE). The processing efficiency of EP‐UHMWPE is improved compared with direct compression molded UHMWPE. This is because the preheating time can be omitted during the molding process, and the residence time of UHMWPE in the extruder is less than 90 s. The mechanical properties and friction resistance of EP‐UHMWPE are significantly improved compared with those of direct compression molded UHMWPE. The yield strength increases from 21 MPa to 23 MPa, the tensile strength increases from 36 MPa to 46 MPa, the elongation at break increases from 610% to 700%, and the abrasion loss decreases from 1.73 mg/1000 r to 0.93 mg/1000 r when UHMWPE is subjected to ERE pretreatment. We attribute these improvements to the elongational flow enhancing the orientation and disentanglement of UHMWPE molecular chains, which in turn improves particle fusion. The molecular weight is well maintained when subjected to ERE pretreatment. UHMWPE components pretreated by ERE have good prospects in artificial joint implants. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry