Mechanochemical Preparation of Fe/M/UHMWPE Ternary Composites (M = TiC, HfC, TiB<sub>2</sub>, B<sub>4</sub>C) under Intense Plastic Deformation
Structural changes of ultrahigh-molecular polyethylene (UHMWPE), modified by inorganic mechanocomposites Fe/M (M = TiC, HfC, TiB2, B4C) (70 mass %) under intense plastic deformation in a planetary ball mill, were investigated by means of X-ray phase analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. At a short treatment time, the molecular structure of initial UHMWPE is not disturbed, and the change in the shape of powder particles is due to the segmental mobility of macromolecules. The introduction of inorganic mechanocomposites (fillers) into the polymer leads to the formation of a polymer-filler interfacial zone with a branched polymer structure. The crystallinity degree of mechanochemically obtained Fe/M/UHMWPE composites is reduced to 25-40 vol. %, compared to 44 vol. % for initial UHMWPE, depending on the filler nature. No oxidative degradation of the polymer is observed under mechanical treatment.