Development of Two-Component Polymer-Polymeric Composites Based on UHMWPE-PP Blends for Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

In order to develop extrudable polymer composites for additive manufacturing some mechanical and tribological properties of polymer-polymeric mixtures of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polypropylene (PP) have been investigated. The problem of selecting rational compositions with the aim of improving the manufacturability (extrudability) of UHMWPE was solved. It is shown that extrudable 3D-printed UHMWPE composites over their tribomechanical properties (wear resistance, friction coefficient, elastic modulus, yield point, tensile strength, and elongation at break) exceed those of the hot pressing fabricated composite. This is related to more uniform ordered permolecular structure formation with increased crystallinity. It is shown that the composite ″UHMWPE + 20 wt.% PP″ is the most efficient from the standpoint of maintaining high tribomechanical properties and possessing acceptable melt flow rate (MFR) index.