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Structure modification of UHMWPE used for total joint replacements
Author(s) -
Nevoralová Martina,
Baldrian Josef,
Pospíšil Jan,
Chodák Ivan,
Horák Zdeněk
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.30317
Subject(s) - irradiation , materials science , crystallinity , lamellar structure , polyethylene , composite material , polymer , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , fraction (chemistry) , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics
Modification of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) consisting of a combination of γ irradiation and subsequent thermal treatment has been performed in order to investigate the reasultant changes to its supramolecular structure. In the first step the polymer was irradiated by γ rays at laboratory temperature under nitrogen. Five radiation doses (25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kGy) were applied at two dose rates (0.25 and 2.5 kGy/h). In the second step the irradiated samples were thermally treated above the UHMWPE melting temperature. Insoluble fraction, crystallinity (fraction), and lamellar periodicity were determined as functions of dose and dose rate for irradiated samples before and after thermal treatment. Both modification steps were shown to produce substantial changes in the UHMWPE structure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2005