Poly(ether) urethane reactivity with metal-ion in calcification and environmental stress cracking.

Since their introduction to the biomedical community in 1967, polyurethanes have been used in a number of biomedical applications. In chronic applications evidence is now available which suggests that polyurethanes may be subject to various cracking phenomena. Environmental stress cracking and calcification are two phenomena resulting in poly(ether)urethane cracking, which have been shown to be enhanced by ion complexation. Much evidence now exists which defines the ability of poly(ether)urethanes to selectively extract ions, especially calcium ion from solution. Metal ion binding appears to enhance environmental stress cracking and appears to be a first step in the process of calcification.