Reduction of wear volume from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene knee components by the addition of vitamin E

Abstract

Wear performance and debris-size distribution of vitamin E (DL-alpha tocopherol, VE)-added ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was evaluated using a knee-simulator test. VE was mixed with GUR 1050 UHMWPE powder at 0.3 wt%, and the tibial components of the knee joint were made by direct compression molding. The VE-added UHMWPE showed consistently lower wear volume throughout the test.