With recent improvements to the properties of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) used in joint replacements, prosthetic knee and hip longevity may extend beyond two decades. However, it is difficult and costly to replicate such a long in vivo lifetime using clinically relevant in vitro wear testing approaches such as walking gait joint simulators. We advance a wear test intermedi...

This article aims to investigate the influence of reinforcing graphene oxide (GO) and graphite flakes (GF) fillers into ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for orthopedic application. These were expected physically bond UHMWPE, thus can enhance subsurface strength, improving wear behavior composites. UHMWPE/GO UHMWPE/GF composites prepared at 0.1 1.0 wt% by melt-blending, followed ...

INTRODUCTION Wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in total knee replacements remains a major limitation to the longevity of these clinically successful devices [1]. Improvements in sterilization techniques over the past decade have reduced oxidative degradation of the UHMWPE bearing, with potentially dramatic long-term reductions in fatigue-related pitting and delamination ...

The average life span of knee prosthesis used in Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is approximately 10 to 15 years. Literature indicates that the reasons for implant failures include wear, infection, instability, and stiffness. However, the majority of failures are due to wear and tear of the prosthesis. The most common biopolymer used in TKR  is Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Pr...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the friction and wear behavior of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) against 3Y-TZP and a novel 3Y-TZP/niobium (Nb) biocomposite. The ceramic and the biocomposite materials were subjected to an accelerated aging process to evaluate the changes in the tribological behavior after this treatment. To carry out the tribological tests, a reciprocat...

New colorimetric methods are described for determination of sub-milligram amounts of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles. These methods are based on the irreversible binding of the fluorescein-conjugated bovine serum albumin or the hydrophobic dye Oil Red O to wear particles. UHMWPE particles bind both substances from their solutions and thus decrease the absorbance...

Periprosthetic osteolysis is a dominant factor in the success or failure of total hip prostheses. Polyethylene wear debris has been implicated in the process of bone resorption and subsequent implant loosening. The present study is the first to examine the effect of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear debris produced by a hip simulator on calvarial bone resorption in vitro. (...

In this study the friction, wear and surface mechanical behavior of medical-grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) (GUR 1050 resin) were evaluated as a function of polymer crystallinity. Crystallinity was controlled by heating UHMWPE to a temperature above its melting point and varying the hold time and cooling rates. The degree of crystallinity of the samples was evaluated usi...

Ultra-high molecular weight polythene (UHMWPE), with outstanding characteristics, is widely applied in modern industry, while it also severely limited by its inherent shortcomings, which include low hardness, poor wear resistance, and easy wear. Implementation of feasible protection on ultra-high to overcome shortcomings would be significance. In the present study, amorphous carbon (a-C) film w...

The mean average life is increasing; therefore, there is a need to increase the lifetime of the prostheses. To fulfil this requirement, new prosthetic designs and materials are being introduced. Two of the design parameters that may affect wear of total knee replacements, and hence the expected lifetime, are the insert conformity and material. Computational models have been used extensively for...