Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition

Qi-Hao Cheng; Ting Zheng; Gang Yang; Hui-Chen Zhang

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3487-3

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Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-01-13

- Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition
- Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 2026年44卷第1期页码：299-313
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
  b.College of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University, Dalian 116622, China
- Author bio：
  
  whlgzt@163.com (T.Z.)
  hczhang@dlmu.edu.cn (H.C.Z.)
- Funds：
  
  This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51909023 and 51775077), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (No. 2021-MS-140), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 3132025114).
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3487-3
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2025-09-01，
  
  录用：2025-10-20，
  
  网络首发：2026-01-04，
  
  纸质出版：2026-01-15
- Accepted：
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Cheng, Q. H.; Zheng, T.; Yang, G.; Zhang, H. C. Molecular investigations on the diffusion of hydrated ions and its effects on the plastic deformation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at seawater condition. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 299–313

Qi-Hao Cheng, Ting Zheng, Gang Yang, et al. Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 299-313.
Cheng, Q. H.; Zheng, T.; Yang, G.; Zhang, H. C. Molecular investigations on the diffusion of hydrated ions and its effects on the plastic deformation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at seawater condition. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2026, 44, 299–313 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3487-3.

Qi-Hao Cheng, Ting Zheng, Gang Yang, et al. Molecular Investigations on the Diffusion of Hydrated Ions and Its Effects on the Plastic Deformation of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene at Seawater Condition[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 44(1): 299-313. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3487-3.

摘要

Friction rearranges polyethylene chains

creating gaps. Hydrated ions and water clusters diffuse into ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) substrate

further disentangling the polyethylene chains under friction. Rigid hydrated ions exert a stronger effect than water clusters.

Abstract

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a key material for marine applications owing to its outstanding self-lubrication and corrosion resistance. However

its long-term performance is compromised by plastic deformation in seawater. In this study

we performed a comparative analysis of the UHMWPE dynamics under seawater and water conditions to investigate the plastic deformation of UHMWPE induced by seawater. The results show that the plastic deformation of UHMWPE is amplified in seawater relative to the water conditions. Under 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 enhanced the orderly orientation distribution of polyethylene. Compared to free water molecules

the water molecules of hydrated ions exhibit enhanced attraction to free-flowing water molecules

thereby accelerating seawater flow across submerged UHMWPE surfaces. This flow enhancement promotes surface polyethylene chain mobility in seawater.

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