Patent ID: 8530057

Claim:
A wear resistant non-oxidizing cross-linked polymeric blend material obtained by a process comprising the steps of: a) blending ultra hiqh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with Vitamin E to provide a polymeric blend material; b) consolidating the polymeric blend material to provide a consolidated polymeric blend material c) heating the consolidated polymeric blend material to an elevated temperature that is above the room temperature and below the melting point of the consolidated polymeric blend material to provide a heated consolidated polymeric blend material; and d) irradiating the heated consolidated polymeric blend material with ionizing radiation to form cross links, wherein the irradiating is at an elevated temperature that is above the room temperature and below the melting point of the heated consolidated polymeric blend material, thereby preserving crystallinity and forming a wear resistant non-oxidizing cross-linked consolidated polymeric blend material that is resistant to leaching of the Vitamin E and is suitable for use in a medical implant.