Patent ID: 8673202
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: A61K,A61L,C08J,C08K,C08L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blend comprising: combining ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene powder and vitamin E dissolved in alcohol to form an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blend; consolidating the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blend; and irradiating the consolidated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blend with electron beam radiation at an absorbed dose of at least 60 kiloGrey and a dose rate of at least 1 MegaGrey per hour to crosslink said ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blend, wherein at least some of the vitamin E is uniformly dispersed within and defining a surface region of the irradiated blend and the surface region extends from an exposed surface of the irradiated blend to a depth of at least about 5 millimeters from the surface of the irradiated blend.