TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of clinical X-ray irradiation on UHMWPE films
AU - Stojilovic, N.
AU - Dordevic, S. V.
AU - Stojadinovic, S.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Harvey Stein from Ticona for providing the samples. N.S. thanks UW Oshkosh FDS498 grant.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Irradiation of biocompatible polymers is generally performed using 60Co gamma sources delivering high doses of radiation, ranging from kGy to MGy levels. This irradiation is typically employed for sterilization and/or crosslinking purposes. However, exposure to gamma rays may generate free radicals responsible for polymer degradation and, therefore, studies of the irradiation effects on these polymers are of great practical interest. In this study, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films were exposed to high-energy photons to doses comparable to those used in radiotherapy for patients with cancer. Specifically, three dose levels of 30, 60, and 120 Gy were delivered utilizing linear accelerator X-rays (6 MV) and irradiation effects were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. It was found that radiation doses up to 120 Gy do not change the polymer crystallinity but affect its optical properties. In particular, the decrease in the optical band gap is observed in irradiated polymers.
AB - Irradiation of biocompatible polymers is generally performed using 60Co gamma sources delivering high doses of radiation, ranging from kGy to MGy levels. This irradiation is typically employed for sterilization and/or crosslinking purposes. However, exposure to gamma rays may generate free radicals responsible for polymer degradation and, therefore, studies of the irradiation effects on these polymers are of great practical interest. In this study, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films were exposed to high-energy photons to doses comparable to those used in radiotherapy for patients with cancer. Specifically, three dose levels of 30, 60, and 120 Gy were delivered utilizing linear accelerator X-rays (6 MV) and irradiation effects were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. It was found that radiation doses up to 120 Gy do not change the polymer crystallinity but affect its optical properties. In particular, the decrease in the optical band gap is observed in irradiated polymers.
KW - Band-gap
KW - Clinical X-rays
KW - Optical spectroscopy
KW - UHMWPE
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U2 - 10.1016/j.nimb.2017.08.023
DO - 10.1016/j.nimb.2017.08.023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85028061178
SN - 0168-583X
VL - 410
SP - 139
EP - 143
JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
ER -