METHODS FOR FORMING ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING CONTAMINANT CONTENT IN SUCH

摘要

According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, the amount of one or more contaminants in an initial ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition may be reduced by a method including contacting the initial ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition with an acid to form a processed ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition. The initial ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition may include at least 0.02 wt. % of one or more contaminants. The contacting of the acid with the initial ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composition may be for a time, at a pressure, and at a temperature sufficient to reduce the amount of the one or more contaminants in the initial ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.