Surface and chemical properties of surface-modified UHMWPE powder and mechanical properties of self curing PMMA bone cement containing UHMWPE powder I. Effect of MMA/xylene contents on surface modification of UHMWPE

It has been widely used ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for the biomaterials due to its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In the case of blend of UHMWPE with another polymeric biomaterials, however, UHMWPE might have low blend compatibility due to surface inertness. In this study, in order to improve the mechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement by means of the impregnation of UHMWPE powder, we developed the novel surface modification method by the mixture of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and xylene. We investigated the variation of composition of MMA/xylene. It was confirmed by the analysis of Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance, scanning electron microscope, universal transverse mercator, and digital thermometer. The maximum mechanical strength of surface modified UHMWPE powder impregnated PMMA bone cement compound was observed the ratio of 1:1 (v/v%) MMA/xylene. Also its curing temperature decreased from 103°C to 58-73°C. The mechanism of surface modification of UHMWPE powder by the mixture of MMA/xylene has been proposed.