Effect of Titanium Dioxide Particle Content on Tensile Properties of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Titanium Dioxide Composites

Abstract

In this study, to evaluate the strength of a new biomaterial made of UHMWPE filled with TiO₂ particles, specimens with different amounts of TiO₂ were prepared and tensile tests were conducted. The results showed that the tensile modulus increased with increasing TiO₂ content, but the tensile strength decreased. To investigate these causes, the specimen surfaces were observed using a laser microscope during tensile deformation. At 5% strain, the interface between the matrix and the particles was completely bonded, but at strains up to about 30%, numerous interface delaminations were observed at the TiO₂ particle interface. The decrease in tensile strength was attributed to the formation of voids due to interface delamination. The root-mean-square roughness of the specimen surface also increased at the time when a large amount of interfacial delamination occurred. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the timing of interfacial delamination and interfacial strength from the change in the height of the material surface.