An enhancement in wear property of UHMWPE used in joint prosthesis

인공관절에 사용되는 UHMWPE의 내마모성 향상에 관한 연구

The Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is exclusivity used as the articulation component with metal or ceramic materials in artificial joint prosthesis because of its good mechanical properties. In the long term however, wear of UHMWPE causes complex problems and hence causes loosening of He prosthesis. In this study, we tried to enhance the wear property of UHMWPE by attaching a hydrophilic graft on the UHMWPE surface and by improving surface hardness without deteriorating the mechanical properties of UHMWPE. This was achieved by ion implantation and by ${\gamma}$-irradiation to the surface in acrylic acid solution and by photo-polymerization in divinylbenzen (DVB), diallysophthalate (DAIP) solution. The wear test was performed by a wear testing machine of ball-on-disk type devised by the authors. The UHMWPE with hydrophlic surface and increased surface hardness developed by above treatments showed less volumetric wear.