doi:10.1016/j.msec.2012.08.028engMedel, F. J.Martínez-Morlanes, M. J.Alonso, P. J.Rubín, J.Pascual, F. J.Puértolas, J. A.Microstructure, themooxidation and mechanical behavior of a novel highly linear, vitamin E stabilized, UHMWPEART-2013-79876A novel, vitamin E-stabilized, medical grade ultra-high molecular polyethylene, MG003 (DSM Biomedical; The Netherlands), has been very recently introduced for use in total joint replacements. This homopolymer resin features averagemolecular weight similar to that of conventional GUR 1050 resin (5.5–6*106 g/mol), but a higher degree of linearity. The aim of this study was to characterize the microstructure, thermal and thermooxidation properties as well as the mechanical behavior of this novel MG003 resin before and after gamma irradiation in air to 90 kGy. For this purpose, a combination of experimental techniques were performed including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and uniaxial tensile tests. As-consolidated MG003 materials exhibited higher crystalline contents (~62%), transition temperatures (~140 °C), crystal thickness (~36 nm), yield stress (~25 MPa) and elastic modulus (~400 MPa) than GUR 1050 controls (55%, 136 °C, 27 nm, 19 MPa, and 353 MPa, respectively). Irradiation produced similar changes in bothMG003 and GUR 1050 materials, specifically increased crystallinity (63% and 60%, respectively), crystal thickness (39 nm and 30 nm), yield stress (27 MPa and 21 MPa), but, aboveof all, lossof elongationtobreakage (down to442and469%, respectively). Thermogravimetric and EPR results suggest comparable susceptibilities to oxidation for both MG003 and GUR 1050 polyethylenes. Based on the present findings, MG003 appears as a promising alternative medical grade polyethylene and it may satisfactorily contribute to the performance of total joint replacements.2013http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/17128610.1016/j.msec.2012.08.028http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171286oai:zaguan.unizar.es:171286Materials science & engineering. C, Biomimetic materials, sensors and systems 33, 1 (2013), 182-188All rights reservedhttp://www.europeana.eu/rights/rr-f/info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess