Synthesis and tribological behavior of novel UHMWPE ‐ T i 3 S i C 2 composites

This article reports the synthesis and tribological behavior of Ti 3 SiC 2 ‐UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) composites for the first time. The compositions were designed by adding 5, 20, and 35 vol% Ti 3 SiC 2 particulates in the UHMWPE matrix. The microstructure evaluation by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) showed that the Ti 3 SiC 2 particles are well dispersed in the green body, but after hot pressing, the Ti 3 SiC 2 particulates segregated to the phase boundaries in Ti 3 SiC 2 ‐UHMWPE composites with 20 vol% or higher concentration of particulates. The addition of Ti 3 SiC 2 particulates enhanced the UYS (ultimate yield strength) and hardness of the composites. Tribological studies were performed by tab‐on‐disc method by testing samples either against alumina or self. Against alumina, mean friction coefficient (µ mean ) remained constant ∼0.20 for all the compositions, whereas, during self‐mating, the µ mean decreased from ∼0.54 in UHMWPE to ∼0.15 in 35 vol% Ti 3 SiC 2 ‐UHMWPE. Comparatively, the specific wear rate (WR) increased steadily during testing against alumina, whereas during self testing, the WR decreased by three order of magnitude. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:254–262, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers