Book chapter
Compendium of Highly Crosslinked and Thermally Treated UHMWPEs
The UHMWPE Handbook, pp 337-361
2004
Abstract
This chapter provides a brief summary of highly cross-linked and thermally treated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE). Crossfire, an annealed highly cross-linked UHMWPE, was developed by Scott Taylor and coworkers at Stryker Osteonics Corporation. In the Crossfire process, extruded rod bar stock is irradiated with a nominal dose of 75 kGy and then annealed at 130°C. Acetabular components are then machined from the bar stock, barrier packaged in nitrogen, and then gamma sterilized with a nominal dose of 30 kGy. Consequently, components that have been through the Crossfire process have received a total dose of 105 kGy. DURASUL is based on warm irradiation with adiabatic melting (WIAM) technology. DURASUL has a biphasic crystalline microstructure that is manifested in two distinct thermal transitions during a differential scanning calorimetry experiment. Overall DURASUL has a lower degree of crystallinity, elastic modulus, yield stress, and ultimate stress as compared with control UHMWPE. Longevity is based on WIAM technology patented by Massachusetts General Hospital. In the Longevity process, the UHMWPE bars are warmed, placed in a carrier on a conveyor, and are exposed to electron beam radiation, with a total dose of 100 kGy. The UHMWPE does not heat above the melt transition during the crosslinking. After irradiation, the UHMWPE is heated above the melt temperature (>135°C) for stabilization of free radicals. Prolong is another process based on WIAM technology. The Prolong process is similar to the DURASUL except that an electron beam irradiation dose of 65 kGy is used for Prolong and continuous compression-molded bars are processed as with Longevity. Components are machined from processed Prolong material, enclosed in gas-permeable packaging, and sterilized by gas plasma.
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Details
- Title
- Compendium of Highly Crosslinked and Thermally Treated UHMWPEs
- Creators
- Steven M. Kurtz - Exponent (United States)
- Publication Details
- The UHMWPE Handbook, pp 337-361
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 25
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84941889337
- Other Identifier
- 991019189067204721