Influence of Heat Treatment on Structural, Mechanical and Wear Properties of Crosslinked UHMWPE

New crosslinked ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPEs) have recently been developed, characterized and introduced in clinical applications. UHMWPE cross-linking treatments are very promising for reducing osteolysis induced by wear debris. The irradiation type, gamma or beta, the dosage and the thermal treatment performed during or following the irradiation process are all factors affecting polyethylene wear resistance. Thermal stabilization treatments performed after or during the irradiation process at a temperature above melting point (i.e. >130 degrees C) have been proven to effectively remove the free radicals generated during irradiation from UHMWPE, but their effect on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE are not completely clear. In addition to wear rate reduction, maintaining good mechanical properties is fundamental aspect in designing the new generation of crosslinked UHMWPE for artificial load bearing materials, especially considering the application in total knee replacements. In this study, we investigated the influence of different stabilization treatments, performed after gamma irradiation, on structural, wear and mechanical properties of UHMWPE. We performed four different stabilization treatments, with different temperatures and cooling rates, on 100 kGy gamma irradiated UHMWPE. Structural properties of UHMWPE were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). To assess the mechanical performance of the materials, uni-axial tensile tests were performed according to the ASTM D638 standard, bi-axial tension performance was evaluated by small punch tests (ASTM F2183-02), toughness resistance was evaluated by the Izod method (ASTM F648), and cold flow resistance was analysed by a dynamic compressive test. Evaluation of wear resistance was by a multidirectional pin-on-disk screening machine. Materials considered were in ""aged"" and ""non-aged"" conditions. Results confirmed that cross-linking greatly enhances UHMWPE wear resistance, but introduces some detrimental effects on the mechanical properties. In this study, we found that the negative ef-fects on the mechanical properties of crosslinked UHMWPE can be modulated, to some extent, by choosing a thermal stabiliza-tion treatment at a correct temperature and cooling rate. (Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2004; 2: 20-8).