The biomaterials challenge: A comparison of polyethylene wear using a hip joint simulator

Mass loss was found to decrease along the series UHMWPE>XLPE_VE>XLPE, although statistically significant differences were found only between the mass losses of XLPE and UHMWPE at 1.2 and 2 million cycles. The mass loss data were explained in relation to the crystalline morphology of the control unworn cups, as investigated by non-destructive micro-Raman spectroscopy. This technique allowed to disclose a different wear behaviour of the three sets of cups. Wear testing produced a stress-induced crystallisation in UHMWPE, with increases in both amorphous (αa) and orthorhombic (αo) phases at the expense of the third phase (αb), which decreased upon wear. Moreover, the all-trans content decreased, while the ortho-trans content increased, contrarily to the trend observed for XLPE and XLPE_VE, for which no statistically significant changes in αo, αa and αb contents were detected. The XLPE_VE specimens underwent the least significant changes in the spectroscopic markers of micromorphology upon mechanical stress, probably due to their lower starting amorphous content.