Preliminary study of the effect of aging following irradiation on the wear of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene.
Several studies have indicated that degradation of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene following gamma irradiation in air adversely affects the mechanical properties of the material; however, it is not known how this subsequently affects its wear rate. Wear studies have therefore been performed on three groups of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene; unirradiated material, recently irradiated material (aged for 2 months), and aged irradiated material (aged for 5 years). The aging took place in sterile packaging on the shelf. The wear studies were carried out on a tri-pin-on-disk wear tester, with a pin from each type of material being studied in each test. In each test the wear rate of the nonirradiated material was slightly lower than the 2-month-aged, irradiated material. The 5-year-aged, irradiated material had the highest wear rate, and this was significantly greater than that of the unirradiated material (P < .05).
Fisher
J
J
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, England.
Chan
K L
KL
Hailey
J L
JL
Shaw
D
D
Stone
M
M
D000077:Acetabulum; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D011095:Polyethylenes