Collier John P, Currier Barbara H, Kennedy Francis E, Currier John H, Timmins Graham S, Jackson Simon K, Brewer Robin L
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003 Sep(414):289-304. doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000073343.50837.03.
Cross-linked polyethylenes are being marketed by orthopaedic manufacturers to address the problem of osteolysis caused by polyethylene particulate wear debris. Wear testing of these cross-linked polyethylenes in hip simulators has shown dramatic reduction in wear rate compared with standard ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, either gamma irradiated in air or nitrogen - or ethylene oxide-sterilized. However, this reduction in wear rate is not without cost. The cross-linking processes can result in materials with lower mechanical properties than standard ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. To evaluate the effect of the various cross-linking processes on physical and mechanical properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, commercially available cross-linked polyethylenes from six orthopaedic manufacturers were tested. This study was the culmination of collaboration with these manufacturers, who provided cross-linked polyethylene for this study, wear characteristics of the material they provided, and review of the physical and mechanical properties measure for their polyethylene. Cross-linked materials were evaluated as received and after an accelerated aging protocol. Free radical identity and concentration, oxidation, crystallinity, melt temperature, ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, tensile stress at yield, and toughness are reported for each material. By comparing these physical and mechanical properties, surgeons can evaluate the trade-off that results from developing materials with substantially lower wear rates.
骨科制造商正在销售交联聚乙烯，以解决由聚乙烯颗粒磨损碎片引起的骨溶解问题。与在空气中或氮气中进行伽马辐照或环氧乙烷灭菌的标准超高分子量聚乙烯相比，这些交联聚乙烯在髋关节模拟器中的磨损测试显示磨损率显著降低。然而，磨损率的降低并非没有代价。交联过程可能导致材料的机械性能低于标准超高分子量聚乙烯。为了评估各种交联过程对超高分子量聚乙烯物理和机械性能的影响，对来自六家骨科制造商的市售交联聚乙烯进行了测试。这项研究是与这些制造商合作的成果，他们为本研究提供了交联聚乙烯、所提供材料的磨损特性，并对其聚乙烯的物理和机械性能测量进行了审查。交联材料在收到时以及经过加速老化方案后进行了评估。报告了每种材料的自由基特性和浓度、氧化、结晶度、熔点、极限拉伸强度、断裂伸长率、屈服拉伸应力和韧性。通过比较这些物理和机械性能，外科医生可以评估开发磨损率大幅降低的材料所带来的权衡。
