ABSTRACT
Medical grade Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been widely used in medical applications due to its biocompatibility, high wear resistance, chemical inertness, very low friction, and high thermal stability. The main field of its medical application is total joint replacement (knee transplants). It is clear that, the surface properties of the prepared product are very important and, therefore, any surface treatment should be biocompatible as well. Development of work on the endoprosthesis of the joints caused, first and foremost successes in the study of ultrahigh molecular polyethylene. This polymer, since the 1962, remains the primary material used in hip and other joints. In recent years there has been an upsurge of research due to a modification of the structure of the polymer by physical methods. Improvement in tribological properties of the polymer providing the retention in biocompatibility is an important and unsolved problem up to date.
