In this paper an investigation was made of the characteristics of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) powder samples, including porosity, particles average size, size distribution and morphology, which are important in cold compression molding. The influence of these characteristics on the green density of molded pre-shapes was also investigated. The UHMWPE powder samples were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), granulometric analysis, oil absorption, surface area, mercury porosity, density compaction, apparent density and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The characterization techniques used demonstrate that the UHMWPE particles characteristics cited above as well as the densification parameter (DP), which is a direct function of the interparticles porosity, affect the relative green density (RGD) and hence, the flexural tensile strength (FTS).
UHMWPE; characterization; cold compression; green density
