METHOD OF MANUFACTURING POLYMERIC KINETIC FRICTION PARTS MADE FROM SUPERHIGH-MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE FOR ARTIFICIAL ENDOPROSTHESES

FIELD: polymer materials. ^ SUBSTANCE: when manufacturing polymeric part, original superhigh-molecular weight polyethylene powder is preliminarily subjected to heat treatment in overcritical carbon dioxide at 40-140°C and specific pressure 15-25 MPa for 2-4 h, whereupon powder is compacted at 190-200°C and specific pressure 10-60 MPa and polymeric part is mechanically adjusted. More specifically, superhigh-molecular weight polyethylene utilized has molecular mass (6-10.5)x106 Dalton and its powder has particle size 5 to 250 mum. Powder may further contain 0.05-0.15 wt % silver or iron with particle size 10 to 100 nm. Polymeric kinetic friction parts thus obtained allow lowered coefficient of friction to be attained when sliding along a counterbody made from biologically inert alloy as well as low relative wear of both prosthesis part material and counterbody (titanium-based alloy), increased structural stability of superhigh-molecular weight polyethylene, microhardness both throughout the whole volume of manufactured part and on its kinetic friction surface, increased limiting wetting angle, and minimized mechanical precision adjustment of part dimensions. ^ EFFECT: improved consumer's quality of kinetic friction parts. ^ 2 cl, 3 ex