Development of PMMA-precoating metal prostheses via injection molding: residual stresses

Injection molding polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was developed as a potential metal prosthesis precoating method for surgical implantation. However, residual stresses generated in the injection-molded PMMA affect the mechanical performance of the coating polymer. This study used plane polariscope testing to demonstrate the residual stress distribution in the injection-molded polymer. Slitting and strain gages were combined with finite element analysis to give a quantitative measure of the residual stresses. The residual stress testing indicated that the highest circumferential residual stress in the injection-molded PMMA was approximately 5 MPa in tension. Two methods, water soaking and slitting, were developed for reducing residual stresses. A series of four surgical implantation simulation processes were designed. The two methods for reducing residual stress were used in the simulations.