Influence of carbon nano- and micron-sized fibers on structure, mechanical and tribotechnical properties of polymer composites with UHMWPE matrix

To compare the efficiency of the solid lubricating and enforcing properties of carbon nano-and microfibers in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites their mechanical and tribotechnical characteristics under dry sliding friction and abrasion have been studied. It is shown that under dry sliding friction the wear resistance of the polymer composite “UHMWPE + 0.5 wt % C (nano)” has increased up to 6.6 times, while in the composite “UHMWPE + 5 wt % C (micro)”—by 2.5 times only. At the same time abrasive wear resistance of these composites has increased approximately 2-fold for both types of fillers. The mechanisms of the observed effects are discussed and interpreted.