title: Orthopaedic grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene: some features of the main thermoluminescence glow curve.
abstract: Thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics of orthopaedic-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene have been investigated between 20 and 200 degrees C. The TL at 1 degrees C s(-1) consists of two glow curves, a weaker intensity peak at 115 degrees C and the main peak at 70 degrees C, studied in this work. TL intensity increases with beta irradiation but with a dose-response influenced by heating rate. On the other hand, the peak maximum is affected by both irradiation and repeated use of a sample. The glow curve shifts to higher temperatures with increase in heating rate but only slightly so with change in beta irradiation dose, properties suggestive of first-order kinetics. Kinetic analysis for activation energy and order of kinetics, based on the discrete trap model, produce somewhat conflicting results. Whereas qualitative analysis of peak symmetry show that first-order kinetics apply, geometrical analysis of the peak shape suggests that the order of kinetics might be other than first-order. Values of activation energy evaluated using the initial rise method were found to be dose dependent and for a given beta dose are in agreement with calculations from peak shape and initial rise methods but less so with results from variable heating rate method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Rhodes University, PO BOX 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. m.chithambo@ru.ac.za
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chithambo
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene