Modification method of ultrahigh molecular polyethylene for manufacture of joint prostheses exhibiting increased service life

摘要

The invention relates to modification of ultrahigh-molecular polyethylene-increasing service life of joint replacements, wherein the polymer is irradiated with gamma rays under an inert atmosphere at dosage output of at least 0.25 kGy / h to 10 kGy / h for 4 to 220 hours or by accelerated electrons at dosage output of at least 1,200 kGy / hr to 12,000 kGy / h for at least 12 seconds and not more than 10 minutes, wherein the total radiation dose is between 40 kGy and most 200kg and subsequently the thus irradiated polyethylene ultavysokomolekulární heated at 90 to 200 degC for 5 minutes to 10 hours in an inert atmosphere and then continuously cooling at a maximum of 20 degrees C / min.