Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene irradiated with gamma rays

  • Published:
Macromolecular Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With the goal of enhancing the creep resistance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), we performed gamma irradiation and post-irradiation annealing at a low temperature, and investigated the crystalline structures and mechanical properties of the samples. Electron spin resonance spectra reveal that most of the residual radicals are stabilized by annealing at 100 °C for 72 h under vacuum. Both the melting temperature and crystallinity increase after increasing the dose and by post-irradiation annealing. When irradiated with the same dose, the quenched sample having a higher amorphous fraction exhibits a lower swell ratio than does the slow-cooled sample. The measured tensile properties correlate well to the crystalline structure of the irradiated and annealed samples. For enhancing creep resistance, high crystallinity appears to be more critical than a high degree of crosslinking.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Lewis,J. Biomed. Mater. Res.,38, 55 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. S. M. Kurtz, O. K. Muratoglu, M. Evans, and A. A. Edidin,Biomaterials,20, 1659 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. B. Yeom, Y. -J. Yu, H. A. McKellop, and R. Salovey,J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Chem. Ed.,36, 329 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. M. S. Jahan, M. C. King, W. O. Haggard, K. L. Sevo, and J. E. Parr,Radiat. Phys. Chem.,62, 141 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. McKellop, F. Shen, B. Lu, P. Campbell, and R. Salovey,J. Orthop. Res.,17, 157 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. R. Chiesa, M. C. Tanzi, S. Alfonsi, L. Paraccjini, M. Moscatelli, and A. Cigada,J. Biomed. Mater. Res.,50, 381 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. V. Premnath, A. Bellare, E. W. Merrill, M. Jasty, and W. H. Harris,Polymer,40, 2215 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. P. H. Kang and Y. C. Nho,Radiat. Phys. Chem.,60, 79 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S. K. Bhateja, R. W. Duerst, J. A. Martens, and E. H. Andrews,J. Macromol. Sci. R.M.C,C35, 581 (1995).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. C. Birkinshaw, M. Buggy, S. Daly, and M. ONeill,J. Appl. Polym. Sci.,38, 1967 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. J. Bolze, J. Kim, J.-Y. Huang, S. Rah, H. S. Youn, B. Lee, T. J. Shin, and M. Rhee,Macromol. Res.,10, 2 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. G. R. Strobl and M. J. Schneider,J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed.,18, 1343 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. P. de Boer and A. J. Pennings,J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys. Ed.,14, 187 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Maxfield and L. Mandelkern,Macromolecules,10, 1141 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. U. W. Gedde,Polymer Physics, Chapman & Hall, New York, 1995, chapter 7.

    Google Scholar 

  16. W. Wilke and M. Bratrich,J. Appl. Cryst.,24, 645 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. M. F. Butler, A. M. Donald, and A. J. Ryan,Polymer,39, 39 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. L. Lin and A. S. Argon,J. Mater. Sci.,29, 294 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. M. A. Kennedy, A. J. Peacock, and L. Mandelkern,Macromolecules,27, 5297 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. C. S. Lee, J. Y. Jho, K. Choi, and T.-W. Hwang,Macromol. Res., submitted.

  21. J. J. Strebel and A. Moet,J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.,33, 1969 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. N. W. Brooks and M. Mukhtar,Polymer,41, 1475 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hyperstructured Organic Materials Research Center and School of Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University, 151-744, Seoul, Korea

    Choon Soo Lee, Seung Hoo Yoo & Jae Young Jho

  2. Biomedical Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 136-791, Seoul, Korea

    Kuiwon Choi

  3. Research and Development Division for Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation, 445-850, Kyunggi, Korea

    Tae-Won Hwang

Authors
  1. Choon Soo Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Seung Hoo Yoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jae Young Jho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kuiwon Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tae-Won Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, C.S., Yoo, S.H., Jho, J.Y. et al. Mechanical properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene irradiated with gamma rays. Macromol. Res. 12, 112–118 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03219003

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03219003

Keywords

Search

Navigation