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Effects of Wear Motion on Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE) Molecular Orientation

Published

Author(s)

S Sambasivan, Daniel A. Fischer, M C. Shen, Stephen M. Hsu

Abstract

In a human hip joint, the motion is complex and consists of flexion/extension, abduction, and adduction. Laboratory studies have shown that these motions increase wear significantly. The aim of this study is to measure the change in molecular orientation of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sample under different motions. Two motions were used: a unidirectional and a cross-shear motion. A soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy at a synchrotron beamline was used to characterize the molecular orientation of the UHMWPE surface layer(1). The amount of soft-x-ray adsorption is very sensitive to the average molecular chain angle with respect to the electric field vector (E) of the incident x-ray beam.
Citation
Society for Biomaterials
Volume
22

Keywords

biomaterials, UHMWPE, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

Citation

Sambasivan, S. , Fischer, D. , Shen, M. and Hsu, S. (1999), Effects of Wear Motion on Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE) Molecular Orientation, Society for Biomaterials (Accessed October 12, 2024)

Issues

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Created January 27, 1999, Updated October 12, 2021