SYNOPSISThe kinetic specificity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation in a living body was investigated. The polyethylene terephthalate net implanted subcutaneously in the backs of rabbits and dogs usually degrades from the surface very slowly. The time of complete degradation of PET fibers in both dogs and humans amounts to 30 k 7 yr. The time for loss of 50% of the initial filament strength under similar conditions is 10 * 2 yr. An equation for promotion of changes in the mechanical properties of polyethylene terephthalate fibers in living animals and humans has been derived.
INTRODUCIlONPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) items are widely used in surgery for substitution of abdominal wall defects, in the prostheses of aorta, large arteries, and other internal organs and tissues. Today there is a large number of persons whose operations 10-15 years ago involved the use of a PET net [ 1,2].However, the very important problem of predicting the changes of polyethylene terephthalate properties in vivo has not yet been solved.
EXPERIMENTALA PET net consisting of fibers of the 34th metrical number has been chosen for investigation. Each fiber consisted of 80 elementary filaments. Before the experiment the net was rid of grease by cleansing agents, washing in water, and sterilization in an autoclave. Nets removed at various times after subcutaneous implantation in rabbits and dogs and also nets'removed for some reason from patients, subjected to hermatomy using synthetic PET prosthesis, have been used. The PET net was then removed from the connective tissue and was treated by 10% KOH at 40°C for 20 min.
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