Patent ID: 7863348
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61K,A61L,C08J,C08K,C08L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An article comprising a blend of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E, in which the vitamin E is present in a substantially uniform distribution throughout the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, in which the blend has a swell ratio of less than about 3.5 after crosslinking, in which the blend is prepared by a process comprising combining the vitamin E and the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene; blending the vitamin E and the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene until a substantially uniform distribution of vitamin E is present throughout the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene to provide a blend; crosslinking the blend using electron beam radiation at an absorbed dose of at least about 95 kilo Grey and a dose rate of at least about 15 MegaGrey per hour; and annealing the crosslinked blend at a temperature up to about 200° C.