J. Jerosch et al., Degree of oxidation and crystallinity of vacuum-packed and gamma-sterilized ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), BIOMED TECH, 43(12), 1998, pp. 350-353
The oxidation index of a new vacuum-packed and gamma sterilized UHMWPE was
determined using infrared spectroscopy, and the crystallinity using differe
ntial scanning calorimetry. The CO numbers ranged from 0.053 to 0.154 (mean
: 0.098). Crystallinity values ranged between 63.1% and 63.8% (mean: 63.4%)
. The low oxidation indices reflected the positive effect of vacuum gamma s
terilization. What effect the small increase in crystallinity will have in
the long run needs to be investigated in further studies.