Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and polydimethylsiloxane blend as acetabular cup material.

An acetabular cup shock absorber implant is formed from a composite of polymer materials. The cup consists of three zones such as the articulating surface of the implant is 100% ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) (zone 1) and shock absorber of the cup contains of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (zone 3). Zone 2 which is designed for better adhesion between zone 1 and zone 2 consists of a blend of UHMWPE and PDMS is a cushion that from one side adheres to zone 1 and the other side to zone 2. PDMS and UHMWPE have been blended under conditions of shear and elevated temperature in order to form uniform, thermoplastic blends. When blends compared to pure UHMWPE, the blends show lowered tensile modulus and lowered mixing energies. The UHMWPE crystals are increased in quantity or else become more regular, even 50% blend shows no rubbery stage. The morphology and dynamic mechanical behavior of the blends were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA). In this study, the biocompatibility have evaluated in vitro the interaction of UHMWPE, silicone and PDMS/UHMWPE blends with L929 fibroblast cells.