Questions about polymers

How does the structure of UHMwPE change if it is torn in 2 directions? Answer

Please tell me how the structure of UHMwPE changes if it is torn in 2 directions. -D. Hendricks

UMHwPE is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a polymer used in making prosthetic joint replacements. It's important to understand how and why the polymer fractures under stress to improve the design of these devices.

Try these references:

"On the structure of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene gels", M. Kunz, M. Drechsler, M. Moller, Polymer, 36(7), 1331-1339 (1995).
"Tensile, stress relaxation and dynamic mechanical behaviour of polyethylene crystallized from highly deformed melts", Polymer, Yu. M. Boiko, W. Brostow, A. Goldman, A. C. Ramamurthy, Polymer, 36(7), 1383-1392 (1995).
Prof. Pruitt's Research (Dept. of Mech. Eng., Berkeley) This site has a list of L. Pruitt's recent papers on fatigue cracking and stress of UHMwPE (and includes a 13000X electron micrograph of the polymer)

You might ask Dr. Robert Kusy at the University of North Carolina ( kusy@ortvx1.dent.unc.edu) He's an expert in the fracture morphology of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

General Chemistry Online! FAQ on polymers