Structure and tribomechanical properties of extrudable ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene composites fabricated by 3D-printing

A comparative analysis on the structure, mechanical and tribological properties of the multicomponent polymer-polymeric composites "UHMWPE + 15 wt.% HDPE-g-SMA + 15 wt.% PP" fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling (layer-by-layer extrusion printing) and hot pressing (compression sintering) was carried out. It is shown that extrudable UHMWPE composites fabricated by 3D–printing over the set of key tribomechanical properties (wear resistance, friction coefficient, elastic modulus, yield point, tensile strength, a value of elongation at break) exceed those of the composites obtained by compression sintering (CS). The reason of the latter is associated with the formation of a more uniform ordered permolecular structure with increased crystallinity. This makes it possible to recommend this material for the manufacturing complex shape products for tribotechnical applications by means of 3D-printing.