Patent ID: 7214764

Claim:
A process for quenching free radicals present in irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mass of irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, wherein the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight of about 400,000 atomic mass units or more, and the mass comprises free radicals, (b) immersing at least a portion of the mass of irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene in a lipid having a temperature for a time and under conditions sufficient to quench a substantial portion of the free radicals contained therein, wherein the temperature of the lipid is maintained below the melting point of the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, (c) removing the mass of irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene from the lipid, and (d) removing lipid from the mass of irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.