The results of this study suggest that the long-lived oxygen-induced radicals in aged UHMWPE have similar thermal stability at temperatures ≤ 125°C. Furthermore, detectable amount of radicals remain trapped in the polymer matrix after 12-hours of heating at 125°C. This radical retaining property of the aged UHMWPE could be attributed to changes in the molecular weight and crystallinity caused by high radiation dose (1000 kGy).
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