Cellular UHMW Polyethylene Produed by Non-Foaming Leaching Technique: Morphology and Properties

Abstract

The objective of the research was to develop and study the properties of cellular or porous Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Polyethylene for biomedical applications. The process, based on the leaching technique, does not require any modification in processing equipment, is environment-friendly and uses raw materials approved by the FDA for in vivo medical applications. It is possible to produce porous polymers having predetermined pore size, pore shape and porosity using the leaching technique. The pores are interconnected and well-distributed throughout the threedimensional volume of the sample. The size, shape and content of the porogen in the molding mixture greatly affect the physical properties of the pores in the final porous sample. Maximum porosity of 60% was obtained. The developed porous UHMW Polyethylene, which is permeable by liquids, can be used as a substrate matrix in bone regeneration and in hip-and knee joint replacements. With adequate lubrication, the porous implants would prevent the formation of polymer debris due to friction and thereby increase the life of the biomedical implants. The new generation of developed porous polymers could be used in a wide range of medical and bioengineering applications.

Porous Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Functionalized Activated Nanocarbon Composites with Improved Biocompatibility

“…Tensile strengths of UHMWPE, UHMWPE with 40% NaCl, and UHMWPE/FANC 12.5 with 1% FANC 12.5 and 40% NaCl were 21.02 MPa, 17.1 MPa and 15.2 MPa, respectively. It is shown that tensile strength of UHMWPE/FANC 12.5 depends on the additional amount of FANC 12.5 and the porosity of UHMWPE/FANC 12.5 [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. When the additional amount of FANC 12.5 was relatively low, e.g., 1%, the decrease in tensile strength of UMWPE/FANC 12.5 was mainly due to the decrease in the orientation degree of the UHMWPE molecular chain caused by FANC 12.5 .…”

“…Porous UHMWPE simulating as closely as possible the porous articular cartilage is a promising composite polymer used for various implant materials, which can provide excellent bearing capacity for human joints. Various porous UHMWPE with appreciate porosity have been prepared by non-dense injection molding methods with higher efficiency, template-leaching methods, and non-foaming leaching techniques [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. NaCl is one biologically compatible and innocuous pore-forming filler to fabricate the porous structure formation in UHMWPE with thermal compression [ 15 , 16 , 19 , 21 ].…”

The Influence of Porous Structure on Tribological Properties of Porous UHMWPE

“…F.Shutov [3] developed porous UHMWPE for biomedical applications. Maximum porosity of 60% was obtained.…”

Effect of Wettability on Tribological Properties of Porous UHMWPE

“…Several studies of cartilage lubrication have proved that the pressurization of interstitial fluid, provided by its porous structure, may contribute predominantly to reducing the friction coefficient at the contact interface of articular layers [2]. F.Shutov [3] developed porous UHMWPE for biomedical applications. They found that the size, shape and content of the porogen in the molding mixture greatly affect the physical properties of the final porous sample.…”