Patent ID: 9441081
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: A61L,C08J,C08K

Claim Text:
1. A method of making highly cross-linked, oxidatively stable, and highly crystalline polymeric material comprising: a) blending antioxidant with UHMWPE resin, powder, or flake in the absence of a supercritical fluid, thereby providing a polymeric blend, wherein the blend is mixed with virgin UHMWPE resin, powder, or flake, thereby forming a composition having antioxidant rich and poor regions; b) consolidating the blend from step (a) to provide a consolidated polymeric material having antioxidant rich and poor regions; c) irradiating the consolidated polymeric material from step (b) at a temperature that is above the room temperature and below the melting point of the polymeric material to provide an irradiated and consolidated polymeric material having antioxidant rich and poor regions; and d) annealing the irradiated and consolidated polymeric material in air or under an inert environment at a temperature below the melting temperature of the polymeric material, thereby forming a highly cross-linked, oxidatively stable, and highly crystalline polymeric material.