The Crystallinity on Grain and Grain Boundary of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene for Artificial Knee Joint

Abstract

We have investigated the crystallinity by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra for C-C stretching mode showed a mount come from amorphous at the side of the peak from crystalline regions. The results showed that only the specimen strained at 20% had higher crystallinity especially at grain boundaries. These results suggest that γ-irradiation makes molecule chain short and then crystallization is caused by tensile deformation. It is also suggested that that the addition of D,L-α-tocopherol would inhibit oxidative degradation and crystallization when tensile deformation occurs on γ-ray irradiated UHMWPE.