Structural changes of UHMWPE after e-beam irradiation and thermal treatment

Ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was irradiated with accelerated electrons (1 MeV in air) using high dose rates (> 25 kGy/min) and thin specimens (thickness 1 mm). Parts of the specimens were remelted (200°C for 10 min; 150°C for 0, 2, 10, 30, 60 min). All specimens were stored i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Applied biomaterials, 2008-04, Vol.85B (1), p.240-251
Main Authors: Slouf, Miroslav, Synkova, Hana, Baldrian, Josef, Marek, Antonin, Kovarova, Jana, Schmidt, Pavel, Dorschner, Helmut, Stephan, Michael, Gohs, Uwe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biocompatible Materials - chemistry
Biocompatible Materials - radiation effects
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
e-beam irradiation
Electrons
Equipment Failure Analysis
Humans
Joint Prosthesis
macroradicals
Materials Testing
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Molecular Structure
Oxidation-Reduction
oxidative degradation
Polyethylenes - chemistry
Polyethylenes - radiation effects
Prosthesis Failure
Radiation
Solubility
Surface Properties
Temperature
thermal treatment
UHMWPE supermolecular structure
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Summary:Ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was irradiated with accelerated electrons (1 MeV in air) using high dose rates (> 25 kGy/min) and thin specimens (thickness 1 mm). Parts of the specimens were remelted (200°C for 10 min; 150°C for 0, 2, 10, 30, 60 min). All specimens were stored in nitrogen in the dark at 5°C. Supermolecular structure, extent of crosslinking, oxidative degradation, and macroradical content were studied by a number of methods (SAXS, WAXS, SEM, DSC, FTIR, ESR, TGA, solubility experiments, image analysis). The results obtained with irradiated samples were compared with those obtained with irradiated and remelted samples. It was confirmed that crosslinking predominates over chain scission at very high dose rates, even if the irradiation is performed in air. Discrepancies concerning supermolecular structure changes in UHMWPE after irradiation and thermal treatment, found in various studies in the literature, are discussed. A simple model, which describes and explains all supermolecular structure changes, is introduced. An effective way of eliminating residual macroradicals in UHMWPE is proposed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008
ISSN:1552-4973
1552-4981
DOI:10.1002/jbm.b.30942