The Development of High-Strength Wear-Resistant Composites Based on UHMWPE and Nanodiamonds

It is shown in this work that the application of a method of micromodification of UHMWPE with nanodiamonds leads to a substantial change in the properties of the composite. It is found that a composite modified with nanopowder of natural diamond (NND) in the amount of 0.5 wt % possesses the optimum set of properties; the improvement of the physical and mechanical characteristics is up to 15% in comparison with the initial polymer matrix. It is proven by IR spectroscopic studies that processes of tribooxidation of the polymer matrix occur upon friction loading as a result of breaking of the chains and destruction and “amorphization” of the surface layer with the formation of a stable transferred film, which favorably affects the tribotechnical properties of the composites.