THE EFFECT OF LOAD AND ABRASIVE PARTICLE SIZE ON THE ABRASIVE WEAR INDEX OF A POLYMER COMPOSITE BASED ON ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18372/0370-2197.3(112).21621

Keywords:

ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, liquid-quenched alloy, load, abrasive wear, abrasive particle size

Abstract

This article examines the effect of the applied load and abrasive particle size on the abrasive wear index of a polymer composite material based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene filled with 20 wt.% of the Al- 5 wt.% Cr binary alloy. The investigations were carried out at three load levels (10, 15 and 20 N) and three levels of abrasive particle size for firmly fixed abrasive particles (100, 150 and 200 µm) using a HECKERT testing machine. Design of experiments and regression analysis were employed to determine the effects of the experimental factors on the abrasive wear index of the polymer composite. The results of the studies yielded a second-order mathematical model that enables prediction of the abrasive wear index of a polymer composite based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene filled with a liquid- quenched Al-5 wt.% Cr binary alloy, depending on the applied load and abrasive particle size. The statistical significance of the coefficients and the adequacy of the mathematical model to the experimental data were assessed using the Student’s and Fisher’s criteria, respectively. It was established that the abrasive wear index is affected by both the applied load and abrasive particle size, as well as by their combined effect. The mathematical model obtained can be used to predict the abrasive wear resistance of a polymer composite and to determine appropriate operating conditions for structural and tribological components in agricultural, mining and automotive machinery operating under abrasive wear conditions.

Author Biographies

Oleg Popil, Dniprovsk State Technical University

Candidate for higher education «Doctor of Philosophy» in specialty 132 «Materials Science» educational and scientific program «Materials Science» of Department of Condensed State Physics, Dniprovsk State Technical University, Dniprobudivska St., 2, Kamianske, Ukraine, 51918

Anna-Mariia Tomina, Dniprovsk State Technical University

Candidate technical of Sciences, associate professor of Department of Condensed State Physics, Dniprovsk State Technical University, Dniprobudivska St., 2, Kamianske, Ukraine, 51918

Kateryna Voloshina, Dniprovsk State Technical University

Higher education student of the 1st year of the Master's degree program in the specialty E5 «Physics and Astronomy» of the Specialization «Condensed Matter Physics», Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Dniprovsk State Technical University, Dniprobudivska St., 2, Kamianske, Ukraine 51918, tel.number: +380569560667

Valerij Bashev, Dniprovsk State Technical University

Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Condensed State Physics, Dniprovsk State Technical University, Dniprobudivska St., 2, Kamianske, Ukraine, 51918

References

1. Pleskach V., Akimov I. Reliability of machine parts under gas-abrasive wear. New materials and technologies in metallurgy and mechanical engineering. 2025. No.1. P. 44–49. URL: DOI 10.15588/1607-6885-2025-1-6

2. Melnyk O.V. Сauses of wear of aircraft parts of friction units and methods for their availability supporting. Problems of Friction and Wear. 2020. Vol. 86, No. 1. P. 87–92. URL: https://doi.org/10.18372/0370-2197.86.14491

3. Bashev V.F., Tomin S.V., Kalinina T.V., Kushnerov O.I., Bondar N.P. Effect of Binary Al-Ni Alloy on the Rate of Abrasive Wear of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Functional Materials. 2024. Vol. 31, No. 4. P. 557–560. URL: doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/fm31.02.557

4. Hussain M., Naqvi R.A., Abbas N., Khan S.M., Nawaz S., Hussain A., Zahra N., Khalid M.W. Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a Promising Polymer Material for Biomedical Applications: A Concise Review. Polymers. 2023. Vol. 12, No. 3. P. 323. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020323

5. Samad M. A. UHMWPE Nanocomposite Coatings Reinforced with Alumina (Al₂O₃) Nanoparticles for Tribological Applications. Coatings. 2018. Vol. 8, No. 8. P. 280. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8080280

6. Moczó J., Fekete E., László K., Pukánszky B. Aggregation of Particulate Fillers: Factors, Determination, Properties. Macromolecular Symposia. 2003. Vol. 194, No. 1. P. 111–124. URL: 10.1002/masy.200390071

7. Shi G., Cao Z., Yan X., Wang Q. In-Situ Fabrication of a UHMWPE Nanocomposite Reinforced by SiO₂ Nanospheres and Its Tribological Performance. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2019. Vol. 236. P. 121778. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2019.121778

8. Sharma S., Bijwe J., Panier S., Sharma M. Abrasive wear performance of SiC-UHMWPE nano-composites – Influence of amount and size. Wear. 2015. Vol. 332–333. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wear.2015.01.012

9. Chang B.P., Akil H.M., Nasir R.B., Khan A. Optimization on wear performance of UHMWPE composites using response surface methodology. Tribology International. 2015. Vol. 88. P. 252 – 262. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2015.03.028

10. Popil O.I., Tomina A.-M.V. The influence of a binary alloy of the Al-Cr system on the tribological properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Problems of Tribology. 2025. Vol. 30, No 2/116. P. 14-18. URL: https://doi.org/10.31891/2079-1372-2025-116-2-14-18

11. Yeromenko O., Yeriomina Y., Tomina A.-M., Dašić P. Optimization of the Processes of Operation of Basalt Plastic Friction Unit. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems. 2024. Vol. 926 LNNS. Р. 118–128. URL: 10.1007/978-3-031-54664-8_12

12. Harsha A.P., Wäsche R., Joyce T.J. Wear of Biopolymers under Reciprocating Sliding Conditions against Different Counterfaces. Polymer Engineering & Science. 2019. Vol. 59, No. 11. P. 2356–2366. URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.25239

13. Zhang K., Cui Y., Cai L. Effect of operating parameters and abrasive particle size on three-body abrasion performance of alkali-treated eucalyptus fiber reinforced polyvinyl chloride composite. BioResources. 2020. Vol. 15, No 1. P. 1298-1310. URL: 10.15376/biores.15.1.1298-1310

Downloads

Published

2026-10-18

How to Cite

Popil, O., Tomina, A.-M., Voloshina, K., & Bashev, V. (2026). THE EFFECT OF LOAD AND ABRASIVE PARTICLE SIZE ON THE ABRASIVE WEAR INDEX OF A POLYMER COMPOSITE BASED ON ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE. Problems of Friction and Wear, (3(112), 150–159. https://doi.org/10.18372/0370-2197.3(112).21621

Issue

Section

Проблеми тертя та зношування