Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oxidative degradation behavior of irradiated GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites immersed in simulated body fluid

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, the artificial joint substrate material of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is modified by irradiation cross-linking and graphene oxide (GO). The aim of the study is to evaluate the oxidative degradation behavior of GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites immersed in the simulated body fluid (SBF) atmosphere for a long term at 37 °C, using SBF absorption rate, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and ball indentation hardness. The results demonstrated that both methods of irradiation cross-linking and GO mixing can effectively improve the physicochemical properties and mechanical properties of UHMWPE matrix. After all the samples were immersed for 12 months, the value of ball indentation hardness of UHMWPE, R-UHMWPE, GO/UHMWPE and R-GO/UHMWPE was decreased by 19.6%, 23.18%, 34.58% and 31.88%, respectively. The GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites suffer from severe oxidative degradation compared to the original UHMWPE. Particularly, the pre-degradation rate was accelerated when mixed with GO. However, irradiated GO/UHMWPE (R-GO/UHMWPE) still exhibited optimal physical performance after oxidative degradation. This study highlights the importance of using more realistic solutions to characterize the performance of the modified UHMWPE nanocomposites, and reveals the mechanism of GO addition and irradiation cross-linking treatment on the UHMWPE nanocomposites immersed in SBF for a long time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Li Z, Chen L, Peng D, Ke W, Qin Z (2019) Realizing mechanically reinforced all-polyethylene material by dispersing UHMWPE via high-speed shear extrusion. Polymer 180:121711–121721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen T, Li Q, Fu Z, Sun L, Wu C (2017) The shape memory effect of crosslinked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene prepared by silane-induced crosslinking method. Polym Bull 75(5):2181–2196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yang CB, Huang HT, Chen CC, Lai YH, Huang CH, Lu YC, Fang HW (2014) The role of synovial biomolecules nano-tribology in the articulation between artificial joint materials. Curr. Nano Sci. 10(2):179–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Deng YL, Xiong DS (2015) Fabrication and properties of UHMWPE grafted with acrylamide polymer brushes. J Polym Res 22(10):195–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sobieraj MC, Rimnac CM (2009) Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene: mechanics, morphology, and clinical behavior. J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. 2(5):433–443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Arrigo R, Dintcheva NT, Pampalone V, MoriciMonica E, Gambarotti GC (2016) Advanced nano-hybrids for thermo-oxidative-resistant nanocomposites. J Mater Sci 51(14):6955–6966

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zabolotnov AS, Brevnov PN, Akul’Shin VV, Novokshonova LA, Doronin FA, Evdokimov AG, Nazarov VG (2018) The wear resistance of composite materials based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene with fillers of various types. Polym Sci 11:297–302

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Suñer S, Gowland N, Craven R, Joffe R, Emami N, Tipper JL (2018) Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/graphene oxide nanocomposites: wear characterization and biological response to wear particles. J Biomed Mater Res B 106(1):183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Golchin A, Wikner A, Emami N (2016) An investigation into tribological behaviour of multi-walled carbon nanotube/graphene oxide reinforced UHMWPE in water lubricated contacts. Tribol Int 95:156–161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Huang GD, Ni ZF, Chen GM, Pang WC, Zhao YW (2016) Effects of gamma irradiation and accelerated aging on GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites. Int J Polym Anal Charact 21(5):11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Pang WC, Ni ZF, Wu JL, Zhao YW (2018) Investigation of tribological properties of graphene oxide reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene under artificial seawater lubricating condition. Appl Surf Sci 434:273–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kang XQ, Yao C, Yang CM, Feng PZ (2018) Influence of five-year degradation on mechanical and tribology properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Tribol Trans 61(3):539–546

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Seong OH, Lawrence TD (2003) Water absorption effects on hydrophilic polymer matrix of carboxyl functionalized glucose resin and epoxy resin. Eur Polym J 39(9):1791–1799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Valášek P, Kejval J, Müller M (2014) Epoxy resin filled with primary and secondary raw material—useable in agriculture. Res Agric Eng 60:165–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ni ZF, Pang WC, Chen GM, Lu PP, Qian SH (2017) The influence of irradiation on thermal and mechanical properties of UHMWPE/GO nanocomposites. Russ J Appl Chem 90(11):1876–1882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Allahbakhsh A, Sharif F, Mazinani S (2013) The influence of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface behavior and roughness characteristics of graphene oxide. Nano 8(4):86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bian Y, Bian ZY, Zhang JX, Ding AZ, Liu SL, Wang H (2015) Effect of the oxygen-containing functional group of graphene oxide on the aqueous cadmium ions removal. Appl Surf Sci 329:269–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rocha MF, Mansur AAP, Mansur HS (2010) FTIR investigation of UHMWPE oxidation submitted to accelerated aging procedure. Macromol Symp 296:487–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cheng J, Yang X, Dong L, Zheng GP, Zhang WJ, Zhang DQ, Wang H (2017) Effective nondestructive evaluations on UHMWPE/Recycled-PA6 blends using FTIR imaging and dynamic mechanical analysis. Polym Test 59:371–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Muratoglu OK, Wannomae KK, Rowell SL, Micheli BR, Malchau H (2010) Ex vivo stability loss of irradiated and melted ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. J Bone Joint Surg Am 92(17):2809–2816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Castell P, MartínezMorlanes MJ, Alonso PJ, Martinez MT, Puértolas JA (2013) A novel approach to the chemical stabilization of gamma-irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene using arc-discharge multi-walled carbon nanotubes. J Mater Sci 48(19):6549–6557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Fulin P, Pokorny D, Slouf M, Nevoralova M, Vackova T, Dybal J, Pilar J (2014) Quantification of structural changes of UHMWPE components in total joint replacements. BMC Musculoskel Dis 15:109–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shen HW, He L, Fan CH, Xie BH, Yang MB (2015) Improving the integration of hdpe/uhmwpe blends by high temperature melting and subsequent shear. Mater Lett 138:247–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Huang GD, Ni ZF, Chen GM, Li GF, Zhao YW (2016) Investigation of irradiated Graphene oxide/Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene nanocomposites by ESR and FTIR spectroscopy. Fuller Nanotubes Carbon Nanostruct 24(11):698–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mehmood MS, Yasin T, Jahan MS, Mishra SR, Walters BM, Ahmad M, Ikram M (2013) Assessment of residual radicals in γ-sterilized shelf-aged uhmwpe stabilized with α-tocopherol. Polym Degrad Stabil 98:1256–1263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Costa L, Bracco P (2016) Mechanisms of cross-linking, oxidative degradation, and stabilization of UHMWPE. Uhmwpe Biomater Handb 43:467–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hardison A, Lewis G, Daniels AU, Smith RA (2003) Determination of the activation energies of and aggregate rates for exothermic physico-chemical changes in UHMWPE by isothermal heat-conduction microcalorimetry (IHCMC). Biomaterials 24(28):5145–5151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ren Y, Wei X, Wei ST, Wang FY, Wang J, Xu JZ, Xu L, Gul RM, Li ZM (2019) High oxidation stability of tea polyphenol-stabilized highly crosslinked UHMWPE under an in vitro aggressive oxidative condition. Clin Orthop Relat Res 477(8):1947–1955

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Yin GN, Zheng Z, Wang HT, Du QG, Zhang HD (2013) Preparation of graphene oxide coated polystyrene microspheres by Pickering emulsion polymerization. J Colloid Interfaces Sci 394:192–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sharma P, Borah DJ, Das MR (2014) Graphene oxide nanosheets at the water-organic solvent interface: utilization in one-pot adsorption and reactive extraction of dye molecules. ChemPhysChem 15(18):4019–4025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This Project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51305166, 51675232, 51775244) and the Excellent Teaching Team of “Blue Project” in Jiangsu Universities in 2018.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China

    Peipei Lu, Meiping Wu & Zifeng Ni

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Wuxi Institute of Technology, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China

    Guodong Huang

Authors
  1. Peipei Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meiping Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zifeng Ni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guodong Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meiping Wu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, P., Wu, M., Ni, Z. et al. Oxidative degradation behavior of irradiated GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites immersed in simulated body fluid. Polym. Bull. 78, 5153–5164 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03370-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03370-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation