Abstract
Aims: In recent years, radiation crosslinking has become an important processing step in the manufacture of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) components of joint replacement prostheses due to its associated high wear resistance. Gamma or electron beam radiation treatment is usually followed by a heating step, either complete melting or annealing of PE close to but below the melting temperature for a specific time duration. The heat treatment is performed to decrease free radical concentration within the crystalline lamellae in order to make PE more oxidation resistant.
In this study, we hypothesized that high pressure processing of PE would be advantageous if it is performed only after irradiation and quenching of free radicals and that it would be detrimental if it preceded irradiation. We used accelerated oxidation, mechanical tests and wear tests to show
Methods: Ram-extruded rod stock of GUR 1050 PE (Ticona, Bayport, TX) was purchased from MediTECH Medical Polymers (Fort Wayne, IN) and machined into cylinders to snugly fit into a custom-built high-pressure cell. A Carver hydraulic press was used to apply a pressure of 500MPa to PE specimens preheated to various temperatures, slow cooled to room temperature followed by pressure release. The PE cylinders and untreated control PE were subjected to 50kGy gamma radiation, which is a dose sufficient for a high degree of crosslinking in PE. A Parr bomb reactor filled with oxygen gas and operating at 5atm pressure and 70_C temperature was used to oxidize PE for a period of 14 days, according to ASTM standard F2003–02, and later characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). A second batch of PE was first irradiated, melted and then subjected to high pressure processing. ASTM standard tensile tests were conducted to determine whether there was any increase in mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to characterize the lamellar morphology.
Results: The morphological characterization techniques, SEM and DSC, showed that high pressure processing increased the crystallinity as well as lamellar thickness regardless of whether the process was conducted prior to or after irradiation. FTIR showed that there was a monotonic increase in oxidation with lamellar thickness if the irradiation was carried out after high pressure processing. Several mechanical properties such as modulus and yield stress of PE increased with increase in crystallinity, which is desirable for applications where PE is subjected to high stresses.
Conclusions: High-pressure processing benefits the mechanical properties of crosslinked PE when it is conducted after irradiation and melting. However, if it conducted prior to irradiation and is not followed by thermal treatment, it can lead to more trapped free radical and excessive oxidation. Therefore, it is important to employ this processing method after irradiation so that it improves the mechanical properties of crosslinked PE.
The abstracts were prepared by incoming Professor Elena Brach del Prever. Correspondence should be addressed to IORS – President office, Dipartimento di Traumatologia, Ortopedia e Mediciana del Lavoro, Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico - Via Zuretti, 29 I-10135 Torino, Italy.
