Document Type
Patent
Publication Date
2-13-1996
Patent Number
patent number 5491198
Abstract
A process for phosphonylating the surface of an organic polymeric preform and the surface-phosphonylated preforms produced thereby are provided. Organic polymeric preforms made from various polymers including polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyamides, and polyester, and formed into blocks, films, and fibers may have their surfaces phosphonylated in a liquid-phase or gas phase reaction. Liquid phase phosphonylation involves the use of a solvent that does not dissolve the organic polymeric preform but does dissolve a phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride. The solvent chosen must also be nonreactive with the phosphorus halide. Such solvents available for use in the present process include the fully-halogenated liquid solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, and the like. Gas phase phosphonylation involves treating the organic polymeric preform with a gaseous phosphorus halide such as phosphorus trichloride and oxygen. The inventive processes allow for surface phosphonylation of the organic polymeric preform such that up to about 30 percent of the reactive carbon sites in the polymer are phosphonylated. The inventive phosphonylated organic polymers are particularly useful as orthopedic implants because hydroxyapatite-like surfaces which can be subsequently created on the organic implants allow for co-crystallization of hydroxyapatite to form chemically-bound layers between prosthesis and bone tissue.
Application Number
08/188478
Assignees
Clemson University (Clemson, SC)
Filing Date
1994-01-28
Primary/U.S. Class
525/340