Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Wetting and Friction Wear Properties of Bionic Textured UHMWPE for Nepenthes

Xuyang Nie; Wen Zhong; Jun Tang; Siqiang Chen

doi:10.6919/ICJE.202603_12(3).0026

Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Wetting and Friction Wear Properties of Bionic Textured UHMWPE for Nepenthes

Xuyang Nie, Wen Zhong, Jun Tang, Siqiang Chen

International Core Journal of Engineering, (2026), Vol.12, No.3, pp.225-230

Published: March 19, 2026

DOI: 10.6919/ICJE.202603_12(3).0026

PDF: Download Full Text PDF

Abstract

To address material adhesion and wear issues of equipment in the food and pharmaceutical fields, pitcher plant’s crescent-shaped inner wall structure was used as the bionic prototype. Textured UHMWPE/TiO₂ composites with TiO₂ mass fractions of 0–20wt% were prepared via solution blending-molding-ultraviolet laser texturing. The regulation mechanism of TiO₂ content on the material’s wettability and tribological properties was investigated. The results show that the blank textured UHMWPE exhibits a water contact angle of 132.5° and a friction coefficient as low as 0.13. After introducing TiO₂, the water contact angle fluctuates in a “decrease-rise-fall” trend, and the hydrophobicity is weakened overall. The friction coefficient increases with the rise of TiO₂ content; the 20wt% group shows a 346.2% increase compared with the blank textured group, and the high-content groups (15–20wt%) present severe fluctuations in friction curves. The wear loss increases significantly with increasing TiO₂ content, and the wear mechanism gradually shifts from adhesive wear to abrasive wear-dominated. This study provides key references for the component optimization of bionic UHMWPE composites.

Keywords: Pitcher Plant-bionic Texture; TiO₂/UHMWPE Composite; Wettability; Tribological Property.

APA Citation: Xuyang Nie, Wen Zhong, Jun Tang, Siqiang Chen (2026). Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Wetting and Friction Wear Properties of Bionic Textured UHMWPE for Nepenthes. International Core Journal of Engineering, 12(3), 225-230. https://doi.org/10.6919/ICJE.202603_12(3).0026

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