Patent · US Active

Solid state deformation processing of crosslinked high molecular weight polymeric materials

US7547405B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
89References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2006
Grant dateJun 16, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC08J3/28
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Solid-state deformation processing of crosslinked high molecular weight polymers such as UHMWPE, for example by extrusion below the melt transition, produces materials with a desirable combination of physical and chemical properties. Crosslinked bulk materials are heated to a compression deformable temperature, and pressure is applied to change a transverse dimension of the material. After cooling and stress relieving, a treated bulk material is obtained that has enhanced tensile strength in the axial direction orthogonal to the dimension change. In preferred embodiments, medical implant bearing materials are machined from the treated bulk material with the in vivo load bearing axis substantially parallel or coincident with the axial direction of the treated bulk material.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.