Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Analysis of Explanted Breast Implants

Abstract

The slow degradation or deterioration of a material due to the long-term effects of the environment are usually referred to as aging. Aging is an extremely complex process which may represent a myriad of physical and/or chemical processes. In polymeric materials the physical processes accompanying aging range from loss of additives, such as plasticizers or anti-oxidants to swelling by liquids. Chemical aging includes diverse phenomenon such as cross-linking, depolymerization, or reaction with environmental species, such as oxygen, to produce new or different compounds. The aging of silicones is of great interest, particularly with respect to changes which may occur in body implants during long-term implantation.