Wear Performance Analysis of UHMWPE for Total Knee Arthroplasty

A Comparative Study of Materials from Different Sources

Authors

  • D. Darmanto Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Wahid Hasyim, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
  • M. A. Wahid Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Wahid Hasyim, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
  • P. W. Anggoro Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, University of Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • R. Ismail Center for Bio-Mechanics, Bio-Material, Bio-Mechatronics, and Bio-Signal Processing (CBIOM3S), Central Java, Indonesia
  • R. Novriansyah Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
  • I. N. Jujur Research Center for Advanced Materials, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
  • Y. Setyoadi Department of Mechanical Engineering PGRI University, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
  • B. W. B. Santoso Politeknik ATMI, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
  • Y. Stefanditya Politeknik ATMI, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 31393-31400 | February 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.15247

Received: 1 October 2025 | Revised: 12 November 2025 | Accepted: 29 November 2025 | Online: 10 December 2025


Corresponding author: D. Darmanto

Abstract

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a key material in orthopedic implants, particularly in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), due to its excellent wear resistance and biocompatibility. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the wear behavior of domestically produced UHMWPE (PIN A) with commercially available products from China (PIN B) and the United States (PIN C). Wear tests were performed using a pin-on-disc tribometer under dry conditions to determine the wear volume, the wear rate, and the wear coefficient. Microstructural analysis was also conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and hardness was measured with a Shore D durometer. The results showed that PIN A exhibited superior wear performance, having the lowest wear width of 1.198 mm at 4500, as well as the lowest wear volume and wear rate. Another significant observation was that the wear coefficient for PIN A was the lowest at 8.35×10-7 mm3/Nm, reflecting the best resistance to material loss under friction. PIN B showed a moderate wear coefficient of 1.19×10-6 mm³/Nm, while PIN C had the highest with 1.83×10-6 mm3/Nm, indicating the poorest wear resistance. SEM micrographs also confirmed that the microstructure of PIN A had a compact, layered, and fibrous morphology, which contributed to its superior mechanical performance. The trend shows that domestic UHMWPE can match or exceed the performance of imported materials when subjected to proper processing and supports the potential application in clinical orthopedic procedures.

Keywords:

UHMWPE, wear resistance, TKA, pin-on-disc, biomechanical properties, microstructure evaluation

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D. Darmanto, “Wear Performance Analysis of UHMWPE for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparative Study of Materials from Different Sources”, Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 31393–31400, Feb. 2026.

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Copyright (c) 2025 D. Darmanto, M. A. Wahid, P. W. Anggoro, R. Ismail, R. Novriansyah, I. N. Jujur, Y. Setyoadi, B. W. B. Santoso, Y. Stefanditya

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