Title screen

The mechanical and tribotechnical characteristics of UHMWPE compositions blended with block copolymers PP-b-LLDPE, PA-b-LLDPE, and PEX-b were investigated in order to produce wearresistant and extrudable polymer composites that can be used in additive production technologies. The introduction of a compatible polymer component into an ultrahigh-molecular-weight matrix in order to increase processability (extrudability) of UHMWPE is conditioned by the search for affordable and efficient wear-resistant extrudable polymer composites for 3D production technologies for manufacturing robust and wear-resistant products of complex shapes for tribojoints in machine building and medicine. Nanocomposites based on a modified extrudable matrix manifest wear resistance 4–5 times higher than wear resistance of the original UHMWPE. A supramolecular structure and the wear surface topography of nanocomposites based on extruded polymer–polymer matrices of UHMWPE with compatible block copolymers was investigated so as to clarify nanocomposite wear mechanisms.