Wear analysis of compression molded ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composite reinforced with talc

Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is in clinical use over 40 years as a liner in the acetabular cups for total hip replacement and knee replacement. Despite its superior mechanical properties, generation of wear debris leads to the aseptic loosening and revision surgery. In the present work, UHMWPE based bio-composites with varying content of Hydroxyapatite (HA) (10wt %), Talc (10–20 wt %) and has been fabricated using compression moulding. HA addition is expected to impart biocompatibility, talc to improve strength and stiffness and wear resistance. It is observed that UHMWPE with 10% HA has the maximum hardness of ∼71 MPa and minimum wear rate of 0.95×10-4 mm3/Nm than other filler reinforced composites. The study of tribological properties have shown that compositions have lower wear rate than UHMWPE, SEM images and study of fretting scar in optical profilometer has been done to explain the wear mechanisms involved. In vitro test for biocompatibility of compositions are done in SBF for a period of 72 h, compositions having HA as a constituent have shown presence of both calcium and phosphorus, thus indicating apatite formation.