Study the effect of surface texturing on the stress distribution of UHMWPE as a bearing material during rolling motion Free

Tribological properties of materials used in biomedical implants will critically affect the performance of the implant. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material is popular due to its great properties. Surface texturing is one of the methods to minimize friction and wear. In this study, the effect of surface texturing on the stress distribution of UHMWPE as a bearing material has been investigated for rolling motion. The study was performed by finite element analysis. Several three-dimensional surfaces were created by varying its texture. The texture consists of several cylindrical cavities for certain separation. These surfaces were then rolled by a hard ball indenter. The stress distribution due to the rolling contact for each surface was analyzed. Results show that the surface demonstrates a higher stress distribution for the lower separation between the cylindrical cavities.