Document Type

Patent

Publication Date

9-24-1996

Patent Number

patent number 5558517

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 according to the present inventive process. The process 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. The inventive process allows for surface phosphonylation of the organic polymeric preform such that up to about 30 percent, but preferably up to about 20 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

08/275634

Assignees

Clemson University (Clemson, SC)

Filing Date

1994-07-15

Primary/U.S. Class

433/201.1

Other/U.S. Class

523/115

Share

COinS