Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Wetting and Friction Wear Properties of Bionic Textured UHMWPE for Nepenthes

Xuyang Nie; Wen Zhong; Jun Tang; Siqiang Chen

doi:10.6919/ICJE.202603_12(3).0026

Authors

Xuyang Nie
Wen Zhong
Jun Tang
Siqiang Chen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6919/ICJE.202603_12(3).0026

Keywords:

Pitcher Plant-bionic Texture; TiO₂/UHMWPE Composite; Wettability; Tribological Property.

Abstract

To address material adhesion and wear issues of equipment in the food and pharmaceutical fields, pitcher plant’s crescent-shaped inner wall structure was used as the bionic prototype. Textured UHMWPE/TiO₂ composites with TiO₂ mass fractions of 0–20wt% were prepared via solution blending-molding-ultraviolet laser texturing. The regulation mechanism of TiO₂ content on the material’s wettability and tribological properties was investigated. The results show that the blank textured UHMWPE exhibits a water contact angle of 132.5° and a friction coefficient as low as 0.13. After introducing TiO₂, the water contact angle fluctuates in a “decrease-rise-fall” trend, and the hydrophobicity is weakened overall. The friction coefficient increases with the rise of TiO₂ content; the 20wt% group shows a 346.2% increase compared with the blank textured group, and the high-content groups (15–20wt%) present severe fluctuations in friction curves. The wear loss increases significantly with increasing TiO₂ content, and the wear mechanism gradually shifts from adhesive wear to abrasive wear-dominated. This study provides key references for the component optimization of bionic UHMWPE composites.

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