Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Reinforced with TiO2 Particles

Abstract

Bones and joints in human body made of a natural composite material are fractured due to excessive loads and impact stress. The various types of bone fractures which occur in human body depend upon crack size orientation, morphology and its location. In general, the mean load on the hip joint is expected up to three to five times of the body weight during jumping, jogging etc. These loads are fluctuating depending on the activities such as standing, sitting, jogging, climbing the staircase etc. The material of prosthesis and the durability of alternate bone material is of critical importance, because it largely determines how load is transferred through the stem. In the geometry and design of the material, the young’s modulus of a material is critical design variable. The polymeric bio-composites reasons, why they are becoming most common composites, include their low cost, high strength and simple in manufacturing principles by molding process. But they suffer from poor mechanical properties like higher wear rate, lower hardness and Young’s modulus. An attempt has been made to develop hybrid bio polymer matrix composites using high density poly ethylene as the matrix material with Titanium Oxide (TiO2) particles as the reinforcement material with varying percentage using extruder injection moulding machine. The different testing namely, tensile, hardness, flexural strength, density, corrosion and wear test were conducted on the standard samples prepared. It is found as appreciable improvements in the mechanical and tri-biological properties of the hybrid polymer matrix composite, which can be used for variety of applications in the human body bone replacement. In this case, their application in orthopedic as implantable material in the bone surgery has been considered and studied. These composite materials have found wide use in orthopedic applications, particularly in bone fixation plates, hip joint replacement, bone cement and bone graft.