| abstract |
This invention is a method for improving the wear resistance of an implant, made of polyethylene by cross-linking its bearing surface layer, while leaving its non-bearing interior uncross-linked. Such cross-linking may be achieved by electron beam irradiation or by chemical cross-linking of the implant or the polyethylene from which the implant is made. The resulting implant or polyethylene may be further treated to remove the residual free radicals (generated by the electron beam cross-linking process); to remove residual chemicals (generated by the chemical cross-linking process): to remove its most oxidized layer; to stabilize its size and shape; to improve, by remelting its oxidation resistance; and/or to reshape it into the final implant. Also presented are the resulting implant, and polyethylene. |