UHMWPE Modified Sodium Alginate

Abstract

Aim of our experiments was to modify prosthetic material UHMWPE powder using sodium alginate. The sodium alginate has an important property that the appropriate chemical reagent could exchange its Na+ions to Ca2+ions. The Ca has important role in the healing process, so modifying this substance the UHMWPE material helps patients healing. In the first step we examined that the raw material UHMWPE powder is necessary to be treated in order to adhere alginate at the surface of the UHMWPE powder. In a second step, we examined that insoluble Ca alginate coating left at the surface of UHMWPE powder after the exchange of Na ions. The treated powders were analyzed by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy and Diffential Scanning Calorymetry methods. SEM investigations were carried out on the prepared samples moreover energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) measurements were performed,-for detection of the presence of small amounts of Na and Ca ions. It has been found that the complex and complicated Caro’s acid chemical treatment is unnecessary in order to prepare alginate coated substrates. The best results were achieved by selecting the correct order of surface layer preparation; first coating the substrate with alginate solution then treating with aqueous CaCl2.