The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Development of a gel content analysis protocol for ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
Author:	Jeanty, Max Harold
View Online:	njit-etd1996-035 (x, 62 pages ~ 2.7 MB pdf)
Department:	Biomedical Engineering Committee
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Biomedical Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Sodhi, R. S. (Committee chair) Sun, D.C. (Committee member) Kristol, David S. (Committee member)
Date:	1996-10
Keywords:	Mechanical wear. Implants, Artificial --Materials --Testing. Polyethylene.
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	A modified procedure based upon ASTM (D 2765 - 90) to determine the gel content of crosslinked polyethylene plastics was developed. The new procedure was applied to ram extruded Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMWPE) implant components processed under different manufacturing conditions. This new evaluation tool provides consistent results with greater accuracy and consistency compared to the American Society for the Testing of Materials (ASTM) method. Using the same tool, several relationships between the UHMWPE processing conditions and gel content were established. The amount of gel content is related to the crosslinked material. It has been shown that the more crosslinking present in a material, the befter its resistance is to wear. This new development is very useful in the comparison of various UHMWPE raw materials and the development of new UHMWPE materials.