Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition
简介：Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)is a key material for marine applications owing to its outstanding self-lubrica-tion and corrosion resistance.However,its long-term performance is compromised by plastic deformation in seawater.In this study,we per-formed a comparative analysis of the UHMWPE dynamics under seawater and water conditions to investigate the plastic deformation of UHMW-PE induced by seawater.The results show that the plastic deformation of UHMWPE is amplified in seawater relative to the water conditions.Un-der thin fluid conditions,frictional interfaces exhibit a higher interfacial friction force and interaction energy in seawater than in water.Compared to freely diffused water molecules,hydrated ions occupy larger interchain spaces within polyethylene.Furthermore,the diffusion of hydrated ions weakens the interchain interactions,promoting more severe polyethylene chain rearrangement and accelerating seawater-induced plastic deformation in UHMWPE during friction.Furthermore,the diffused seawater accelerated the disentangling of the polyethylene chains and en-hanced the orderly orientation distribution of polyethylene.Compared to free water molecules,the water molecules of hydrated ions exhibit en-hanced attraction to free-flowing water molecules,thereby accelerating seawater flow across submerged UHMWPE surfaces.This flow enhance-ment promotes surface polyethylene chain mobility in seawater.展开
学者：Qi-HaoChengTingZhengGangYangHui-ChenZhang
关键词：Ultra-high molecular weight polyethyleneplastic deformationseawaterHydrated ionmolecular dynamics
在线出版日期：2026-04-03 （网站首发日期）
