Reduction of Wear Volume from Accelerated Aged UHMWPE Knee Components by the Addition of Vitamin E

Abstract

Accelerated ageing was conducted on UHMWPE with and without vitamin E (D, L-α tocopherol, VE). Wear performance was investigated using a knee simulator and wear debris was analysed. Aged UHMWPE with VE showed significantly lower wear volume than that of aged virgin UHMWPE and showed approximately similar wear volume as non-aged virgin UHMWPE. There were no significant differences among the materials as far as shape factor of the debris is concerned.

Keywords

• medical engineering
• biomaterials
• material testing
• wear
• bearing
• uhmwpe
• vitamin e
• artificial joint
• wear debris
• accelerated ageing