Application of a stereometric structural analysis for an evaluation of surface and for a forecast of the wear of endoprothesis acetabular cups

To improve the resistance to wear and permanent deformation of polyethylene operating in a polymer/metal friction couple, initial plastic deformation of the polyethylene and its electron irradiation was applied. This contributed to a change of the polymer structure, visible already while machining when the sample surfaces were being prepared for a tribological test. The study shows that the interactions that shape the structure of polyethylene, at the same time cause adequate changes to the stereometric structure of its surface. The parameters of surface microgeometry characterize the future tribological behavior of polyethylene during its operation in a friction couple. It has been shown that an analysis of stereometric parameters may constitute the first projection of polymer wear resistance.