The function of calcium carbonate in enhancing stiffness of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as a filler on the stiffness and mechanical strength of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) which is a widely applied polymer with limitations with processing and resistance to creeping. Solid-state compression molding was used to prepare composites of varying CaCO₃ concentration (5, 10, and 20 php) which were then subjected to analysis for tensile strength, morphology, and chemical composition. FTIR analysis showed that CaCO₃ was successfully incorporated, and the tensile tests showed a reduction in strength at lower filler concentrations which improved at higher loading. Morphology studies indicated that increasing filler CaCO₃ concentration increased the distribution of the filler but also showed some problems of agglomeration at lower CaCO₃ concentrations. These results show that when CaCO₃ is evenly dispersed within UHMWPE, it does enhance the stiffness and properties of the polymer. This study shows the potential of CaCO₃ as a low-cost filler in improving the performance of UHMWPE for industrial and biomedical applications. More optimization on the mixing method and actual testing will increase the quality and reliability of the material.