Tribological properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at ultra-low temperature

• The tribological and mechanical properties of UHMWPE within liquid nitrogen were researched.
• Low temperature almost had no effect on the creep resistance of UHMWPE.
• The ball indentation hardness of UHMWPE was higher at low temperature.
• The compressive properties of UHMWPE at low temperature can meet the low temperature use.
• In the same condition, the wear of UHMWPE at low temperature was more serious.

The hardness, compression properties, creep resistance and tribological properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at ultra-low temperature were researched in this paper, and the feasibility of its use in low temperature components was explored. Studies had shown that the UHMWPE sample at ultra-low temperature had a brittle tendency, and its compression curve was similar to the brittle material, for which the brittle fracture occurred in the 20% compression. Besides, the creep resistance of the sample at low temperature got worse, and its hardness showed an increasing tendency. With the increased experimental load, the friction coefficient varied seriously, and during the same load, the friction coefficient at low temperature was higher than that at room temperature. According to the worn morphology, the sample at low temperature showed a typical feature of fatigue wear and abrasive wear, while at room temperature it mainly for abrasive wear.