Ultrasonic evaluation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene used in medical prostheses.

An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation process is established to observe cracks and delaminations that occur below the surface of retrieved ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene joints. The result from the ultrasonic evaluation is compared with destructive (optical) test results of the actual cracks. Feasibility of characterizing different grades of bulk polyethylene is also established by means of ultrasonic attenuation measurements in the materials. This ultrasonic data can be used to give a better understanding of the failure mechanisms in the UHMWPE material.