A new, non-toxic, curing agent for synthetic polyolefins.
The purpose of this study was to investigate benzocyclobutene (BCB) derivatives as non-toxic curing agents to replace accelerated sulfur systems in certain synthetic biomedical materials. Prototype artificial spinal discs have been made and implanted in a few patients from a carbon black-filled copolymer of 1-hexene and 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene (MHD), which is sulfur cured. The polymers investigated in this study were composed of 1-hexene, allyl-BCB, and MHD (or 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene, MOD). Curing was effected through reactions on BCB, forming carbon-carbon crosslinks. Preliminary cytotoxicity tests showed the material to be non-toxic, and the physical and mechanical properties of the BCB-cured materials were comparable with those of the sulfur-cured polymers.
Fishback
T L
TL
Department of Chemistry, University of Akron, OH 44325-3601.
McMillin
C R
CR
Farona
M F
MF
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D008422:Materials Testing; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000592:standards; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000592:standards; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D011090:Polyenes; C079040:benzocyclobutene; C035051:PL 732