Properties of Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) 

Letter 10096

I'm looking for properties of uhmwpe (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) which is using as a surgical implant raw material and sterilization methods of this material. Also, is there an application to keep its dimensions stable?

Esra Baydemir
medical equipment manufacturing/fresh chemical engineer - Izmir, Turkey

Hi !

May I suggest you go a website and just type in 'UHMWPE' and contact those people.

There are definitely DIFFERENT types of uhmwPe! Ranging from around 2,000,000 molecular length (and weldable!) to around 5 or 6,000,000. In other words, some are better than others and some, obviously, cost more, too.

A major manufacturer is SIMONA in Germany. They could/should be able to give you full information on sterilization etc., if they bother to reply (sometimes they sure don't want to be bothered!).

Cheers!

Freeman Newton - White Rock, B.C. Canada