Dielectric behaviour induced by vitamin E and electron beam irradiation in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Puértolas, José Antonio (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martínez-Morlanes, María José ; Teruel, Roberto ; Martinez-Felipe, Alonso ; Oral, Ebru ; Pascual, Francisco Javier ; Ribes, Amparo

Resumen: Radiation cross-linked ultra high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPEs) have been successfully used as wear resistant bearing surfaces in total joint arthroplasty. A recent development in this field is the incorporation of the antioxidant vitamin E into radiation cross-linked UHMWPE. This study investigates the effects of radiation cross-linking and vitamin E incorporation on the dielectric behavior of UHMWPE. The dielectric relaxations of virgin and 0.1 wt % vitamin E-blended UHMWPE and their irradiated counterparts (up to 300 kGy dose) were investigated. To determine the effect of vitamin E content alone, vitamin E-loaded UHMWPEs were used. The results showed that radiation cross-linking and vitamin E content both increased dielectric polarization in UHMWPE and under some conditions induced electrical conductivity. This result is significant because it shows that the conductive response of UHMWPE-bearing surfaces may depend on manufacturing processes and additives.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1002/app.40844

Año: 2014

Publicado en: JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE 131, 19 (2014), [8 pp.]
ISSN: 0021-8995

Factor impacto JCR: 1.768 (2014)

Categ. JCR: POLYMER SCIENCE rank: 35 / 82 = 0.427 (2014) - Q2 - T2

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Cienc.Mater. Ingen.Metal. (Dpto. Ciencia Tecnol.Mater.Fl.)