Design to Modify UHMWPE with Schiff Base Copper Complex for Use as Tribological Material

Abstract

Based on the theory of tribology, a new kind of modified ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was designed using Cu(II) chelate of bissalicylaldehyde-ethylenediamine and glycerine microcapsules with polyethylene wall (glycerol-polyethylene microencapsule) as additives. Ring-block tester was used to investigate the dry tribological properties of the modified UHMWPE pairing up with CGr15 steel at room-temperature condition. Results demonstrated that the modified UHMWPE formed a selective transfer system when rubbing against steel under the dry frictional condition, and brought about self-selective transferring effect without the need to apply any selective transfer medium to the lubrication. Study also illustrated the obvious improvement of its material characteristics in providing lower viscoelasticity and in strengthening rigidity when compared with the pure UHMWPE.

Keywords:

• Cu(II)chelate of bissalicylaldehyde-ethylenediamine
• glycerol-polyethylene microencapsule
• rigidity
• self-selective transferring effect
• UHMWPE
• viscoelasticity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank NSFC (50575164) for financial support and express their gratitude of partially financing support from a strategic research grant (CityU-7001429) of City University of Hong Kong.