Characterization of the Virgin and Recycled Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Irradiated

The trends of applying Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) have been increasing in the last twenty years in its utilization in several industrial sectors. On the other hand, the growth in the utilization of this polymer for the confection of machinery parts has also increased its loss because the rest of the material is disposable, not being reusable. According to the economical point of view, this loss is big, considering that this material is very expensive. In such case, it was studied the possibility of recycling the industrial waste of UHMWPE and afterwards undergo it to the radiation action. This work is aimed to study UHMWPE resin, its reprocessing by recycling as well as their main properties, before and after irradiation of the virgin and recycled UHMWPE. It was used virgin UHMWPE UTEC 3041 of Braskem Company, which was recycled afterwards. Both virgin and recycled UHMWPE were irradiated to different doses (100, 300 and 500 kGy) using an electron accelerator. It was performed in this work, trials of: tensile strength (MPa), elongation at break (%), hardness, impact (kJ/m2), modulus of elasticity (%) and wear.When the UHMWPE was recycled the properties of tensile strength, elongation at break and impact decreased. However the properties of hardness, modulus of elasticity and wear increased. The virgin and recycled UHMWPE presented the same behaviour in their properties when irradiated with electron beam. It is important to compare UHMWPE properties with the functions it will exert in the final product and with the industrial process which it will undergo to its final form. The UHMWPE could be employed to less noble using, where the presented properties by recycled material lives up to its use