Effect of carbon coating on the properties of gamma irradiated ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene specimens.

We reported the effect of carbon coating on the changes in properties of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene standard material (Hospital for Special Surgery) alter gamma irradiation in air and storage for 2 years. The coating showed a slight improvement in crystallinity (X-ray) and tensile properties (under cyclic loading) over the uncoated and irradiated control group. The oxidation level as measured by Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy was unaffected by coating.