Crosslinked polymers including one or more antioxidants, methods for making same and methods for selecting antioxidants

A method of making an implant, the method comprising:

• a. mixing UHMWPE resin with a first antioxidant comprising a primary antioxidant and a second antioxidant comprising a secondary antioxidant to obtain a homogeneous blend, wherein the combined concentration of the first and second antioxidants prior to crosslinking the UHMWPE blend is from about 0.05% to about 1% by weight of the UHMWPE blend;
• b. consolidating the blend;
• and
• c. irradiating the consolidated blend to crosslink the consolidated blend.

An orthopedic implant, comprising:

• a consolidated and crosslinked UHMWPE blend, the UHMWPE blend comprising:
• a homogeneous blend of UHMWPE resin,
• trolox, and
• a primary antioxidant chosen from lauryl gallate, octyl gallate, propyl gallate, curcumin, resveratrol, rutin, vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol, 2,2,5,7,8-penta-methyl-6-chromamol, catechin, chlorogenic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, bilberry, hesperidin, naringin, genox, vitamin C, 2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-octratriene, and irganox,
• wherein a combined concentration of the trolox and the primary antioxidant prior to crosslinking is from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the UHMWPE blend.