Simultaneous improvements in wear resistance and mechanical properties of UHMWPE nanocomposite fabricated via a facile approach

• A facial method to fabricate high-performance UHMWPE/GNP composites was developed.
• GNPs were effectively dispersed and embedded in shattered UHMWPE particles.
• The silane coating can contribute to wear resistance improvement in nanocomposite.
• The storage modulus of nanocomposite with silanized GNPs was dramatically enhanced.

To meet the high demand for enhanced tribological and mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the incorporation of nano-reinforcements has generally been applied. However, the conventional processing techniques are not readily applicable to the fabrication of UHMWPE nanocomposites because of the extremely high viscosity of UHMWPE and poor filler-matrix interactions. In this study, we report a facile and effective approach to the fabrication of UHMWPE nanocomposites reinforced with graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs). The modification of GNP surfaces with organosilane was found to effectively disperse the GNP in the polymer matrix and to improve interfacial interactions between phases. As a result, simultaneous improvements in wear resistance and storage modulus have been realized for the UHMWPE nanocomposites with silanized GNPs, up to 980% and 170%, respectively.