Radiation cross-linking in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene for orthopaedic applications

Wear of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

Properties of crosslinked ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.

Substantially reducing the rate of generation of wear particles at the surfaces of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic implant bearing components, in vivo, is widely regarded as one of the most formidable challenges in modern arthroplasty. In the light of this, much research attention has been paid to the myriad of endogenous and exogenous factors that have been postula...

Tradeoffs amongst fatigue, wear, and oxidation resistance of cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

This study evaluated the tradeoffs amongst fatigue crack propagation resistance, wear resistance, and oxidative stability in a wide variety of clinically-relevant cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Highly cross-linked re-melted materials showed good oxidation and wear performance, but diminished fatigue crack propagation resistance. Highly cross-linked annealed materials sho...

Comparison of cross-linked polyethylene materials for orthopaedic applications.

Cross-linked polyethylenes are being marketed by orthopaedic manufacturers to address the problem of osteolysis caused by polyethylene particulate wear debris. Wear testing of these cross-linked polyethylenes in hip simulators has shown dramatic reduction in wear rate compared with standard ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, either gamma irradiated in air or nitrogen - or ethylene oxide-s...

Synthesis of high molecular weight polyethylene using FI catalyst

A FI Zr-based catalyst of bis[N-(3,5-dicumylsalicylidene)-2′,6′­diisopropylanilinato]zirconium(IV) dichloride was prepared and used for polymerization of ethylene. The effects of reaction conditions on the polymerization were examined in detail. The increase in ethylene pressure and rise in polymerization temperature up to 35 oC were favorable for catalyst/MAO to raise the catalytic activity as...