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Tribology of Biomaterials
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Tribology of Biomaterials

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2019) | Viewed by 22350

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Amilcar Ramalho

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: tribology; friction; wear; biomaterials
Prof. Dr. José R. Gomes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
Interests: mechanical engineering; tribology; friction; wear testing; wear

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Among all the tribology topics, nowadays the characterization of biomaterials and materials for biomedical applications is one of the more investigated areas. Besides the study of friction and the endurance life of materials for prosthesis, especially for orthopedic and dental applications, the investigation of the friction of human skin and contact lenses has attracted the attention of an increasing number of tribologists. Furthermore, the interaction conditions of medical devices and different organs of human beings is increasingly required to establish both best practices during chirurgic actions and to develop new generations of prostheses and artificial organs. Additionally, the investigation of natural materials, both plant and animal, is also a relevant topic that will allow the development of new biomimetic materials.

Prof. Dr. Amilcar Ramalho
Prof. Dr. José R. Gomes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Biotribology
  • Friction and wear of biomaterials
  • Tribological behavior of medical devices
  • Friction and wear of biomimetic materials

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4759 KiB  
Article
Mapping Tribo-Corrosion Behaviour of TI-6AL-4V Eli in Laboratory Simulated Hip Joint Environments
by Ghulam Rasool, Yousuf El Shafei and Margaret M. Stack
Lubricants 2020, 8(7), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8070069 - 30 Jun 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3086
Abstract
Wear and corrosion in artificial hip replacements are known to result in metal ion release and wear debris induced osteolysis. This may lead to pain and sensitivity for patients. This infers that pre-clinical testing is critical in determining the long-term performance, safety, and [...] Read more.
Wear and corrosion in artificial hip replacements are known to result in metal ion release and wear debris induced osteolysis. This may lead to pain and sensitivity for patients. This infers that pre-clinical testing is critical in determining the long-term performance, safety, and reliability of the implant materials. For this purpose, micro-abrasion-corrosion tests were carried out on a biocompatible material, Ti-6Al-4V ELI, using a T-66, Plint micro-abrasion test rig in conjunction with Gill Ac corrosion testing apparatus for the range of applied loads and electrical potentials in the hip joint simulated environment. A Ringer’s solution, with and without an abrasive particle (silicon carbide), was used to enable the interactions between abrasion and corrosion. In this paper, the effects of applied load and electrochemical potential on the tribo-corrosion behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V in a bio-simulated environment are presented. The wastage, micro-abrasion-corrosion mechanisms, and synergy behaviour were identified and mapped. A significant difference in corrosion current densities was observed in the presence of abrasive particles, suggesting the removal of the protective oxide layer. The results also indicate that Ti-6Al-4V had significant abrasive wear loss when coupled with a ceramic counterpart. According to the mechanism, micro-abrasion plays a predominant role in the abrasion-corrosion behaviour of this material and the material losses by mechanical processes are substantially larger than losses, due to electrochemical processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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17 pages, 5584 KiB  
Article
Influence of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) on the Tribocorrosion Behaviour of a Low Carbon CoCrMo Alloy in Simulated Body Fluids
by Choshun Yoneyama, Shoufan Cao, Anna Igual Munoz and Stefano Mischler
Lubricants 2020, 8(5), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8050061 - 25 May 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2965
Abstract
Tribocorrosion, as the interaction between mechanical wear and electrochemical corrosion, has been found to be the main problem causing the failure and limiting the lifetime of metal-on-metal artificial hip joints. Better understanding of the tribocorrosion mechanisms of CoCrMo alloys is needed in order [...] Read more.
Tribocorrosion, as the interaction between mechanical wear and electrochemical corrosion, has been found to be the main problem causing the failure and limiting the lifetime of metal-on-metal artificial hip joints. Better understanding of the tribocorrosion mechanisms of CoCrMo alloys is needed in order to reduce the degradation of this alloy, especially in the presence of proteins as one of the organic components present in synovial fluid. In this study, tribocorrosion tests of a low carbon CoCrMo alloy in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with and without bovine serum albumin (BSA) in two different concentrations at different applied potentials (passive and cathodic) were carried out. The results show that the effect of proteins on wear and friction was concentration and potential dependent. In the cathodic domain (absence of very thin passive film), wear was very low in all solutions and the friction was significantly reduced by the addition of BSA to PBS even at low BSA concentrations. However, in the passive domain, the friction and wear were found not to be affected when the BSA concentration was 0.5 g/L, while they were reduced when increasing the BSA concentration to 36 g/L. The tribocorrosion results were rationalized through an existing tribocorrosion model and the effect of BSA on wear and friction was explained by the consideration of physical factors such as changes in viscosity and double layer structure, because in the present results no tribofilm formation was observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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14 pages, 5204 KiB  
Article
Some Hard or Soft Coatings to Protect the Pristine Biometallic Substrates under Fretting-Corrosion Solicitations: What Should Be the Best Solution?
by Jean Geringer, Vincent Fridrici, Haohao Ding, Kyungmok Kim, T. Taylor, Lerato Semetse, Sara Ehsani-Majd, Peter Olubambi, Julien Fontaine and Philippe Kapsa
Lubricants 2020, 8(5), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8050055 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
Under tribological conditions in aqueous medium, the contact of materials does involve some degradations of materials. Especially friction under small reciprocal displacement, i.e., fretting corrosion, is occurring; this topic has been highlighted since the 80′s regarding hip implants. Hip prosthesis is assembled from [...] Read more.
Under tribological conditions in aqueous medium, the contact of materials does involve some degradations of materials. Especially friction under small reciprocal displacement, i.e., fretting corrosion, is occurring; this topic has been highlighted since the 80′s regarding hip implants. Hip prosthesis is assembled from three parts: femoral stem, neck and head. Fretting corrosion or friction corrosion between metallic parts first involves some degradation of the oxides layers. This step is governed by mechanics and it is related to some few minutes. Afterwards the corrosion occurrs enhanced by mechanical degradation. As well focused some oxides and some metallic ions are related to biocompatibility issues. Some strategies are available in order to avoid metal against metal friction and/or fretting. Some hard coatings and some smooth coatings were investigated. The first one is diamond-like carbon (DLC), and the second is a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polymeric one. The investigations were focused on fretting corrosion solicitations of Ti-6Al-4V vs. Ti-6Al-4V + coating. DLC as a coating delays the corrosion degradation. The PEEK coating does not promote any corrosion degradation of the metallic counter part and more generally any wear. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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11 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Competitive Binding of Bilirubin and Fatty Acid on Serum Albumin Affects Wear of UHMWPE
by Spencer Fullam, Jade He, Caroline S. Scholl, Thomas M. Schmid and Markus A. Wimmer
Lubricants 2020, 8(5), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8050053 - 10 May 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2407
Abstract
Total Joint Replacement (TJR) devices undergo standardized wear testing in mechanical simulators while submerged in a proteinaceous testing solution to mimic the environmental conditions of artificial joints in the human body. Typically, bovine calf serum is used to provide the required protein content. [...] Read more.
Total Joint Replacement (TJR) devices undergo standardized wear testing in mechanical simulators while submerged in a proteinaceous testing solution to mimic the environmental conditions of artificial joints in the human body. Typically, bovine calf serum is used to provide the required protein content. However, due to lot-to-lot variability, an undesirable variance in testing outcome is observed. Based on an earlier finding that yellowish-orange serum color saturation is associated with wear rate, we examined potential sources of this variability, by running a comparative wear test with bilirubin; hemin; and a fatty acid, oleic acid, in the lubricant. All these compounds readily bind to albumin, the most abundant protein in bovine serum. Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) pins were articulated against CoCrMo discs in a pin-on-disc tribometer, and the UHMWPE wear rates were compared between lubricants. We found that the addition of bilirubin increased wear by 121%, while hemin had a much weaker, insignificant effect. When added at the same molar ratio as bilirubin, the fatty acid tended to reduce wear. Additionally, there was a significant interaction with respect to bilirubin and hemin in that UHMWPE wear rate decreased with increasing fatty acid concentration. We believe the conformational change in albumin by binding bilirubin makes it more likely to form molecular bridges between UHMWPE and the metal counterface, thus increasing adhesive wear. However, fatty acids compete for binding sites on albumin, and can prevent this conformational change. Hence, the protein is stabilized, and the chance for albumin to form bridges is lowered. Ultimately, UHMWPE wear rate is driven by the competitive binding of bilirubin and fatty acid to albumin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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22 pages, 4126 KiB  
Article
Tough and Low Friction Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels Loaded with Anti-inflammatories for Cartilage Replacement
by Andreia Sofia Oliveira, Sara Schweizer, Pedro Nolasco, Isabel Barahona, Jorge Saraiva, Rogério Colaço and Ana Paula Serro
Lubricants 2020, 8(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8030036 - 23 Mar 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4873
Abstract
The development of new materials that mimic cartilage and its function is an unmet need that will allow replacing the damaged parts of the joints, instead of the whole joint. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have raised special interest for this application due to [...] Read more.
The development of new materials that mimic cartilage and its function is an unmet need that will allow replacing the damaged parts of the joints, instead of the whole joint. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have raised special interest for this application due to their biocompatibility, high swelling capacity and chemical stability. In this work, the effect of post-processing treatments (annealing, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and gamma-radiation) on the performance of PVA gels obtained by cast-drying was investigated and, their ability to be used as delivery vehicles of the anti-inflammatories diclofenac or ketorolac was evaluated. HHP damaged the hydrogels, breaking some bonds in the polymeric matrix, and therefore led to poor mechanical and tribological properties. The remaining treatments, in general, improved the performance of the materials, increasing their crystallinity. Annealing at 150 °C generated the best mechanical and tribological results: higher resistance to compressive and tensile loads, lower friction coefficients and ability to support higher loads in sliding movement. This material was loaded with the anti-inflammatories, both without and with vitamin E (Vit.E) or Vit.E + cetalkonium chloride (CKC). Vit.E + CKC helped to control the release of the drugs which occurred in 24 h. The material did not induce irritability or cytotoxicity and, therefore, shows high potential to be used in cartilage replacement with a therapeutic effect in the immediate postoperative period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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27 pages, 9147 KiB  
Article
Harsh Sliding Wear of a Zirconia Ball against a-C:H Coated CoCrMo Disc in Hyaluronic Gel
by Annett Dorner-Reisel, Christian Schürer and Stefan Svoboda
Lubricants 2020, 8(3), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8030035 - 23 Mar 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2507
Abstract
The a-C:H (amorphous carbon-hydrogen) films belong to the family of DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings. The a-C:H coating was deposited on medical grade CoCrMo substrates by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PA-CVD) using benzene as gaseous precursor. Benzene offers an aromatic structure, which affects the [...] Read more.
The a-C:H (amorphous carbon-hydrogen) films belong to the family of DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings. The a-C:H coating was deposited on medical grade CoCrMo substrates by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PA-CVD) using benzene as gaseous precursor. Benzene offers an aromatic structure, which affects the a-C:H properties after plasma decomposition. A zirconia ball was sliding at two different frequencies, 50 Hz or 1Hz, against the uncoated and a-C:H coated CoCrMo. The frequency of 1 Hz is typical for human movement during fast walking. The harsh sliding conditions with a normal load of 100 N and 50 Hz frequency simulate extreme overloading of the biomedical sliding partners. It gives insight into the failure mechanisms. The wear tests were carried out in laboratory air (dry, RH: 15.6%) or using hyaluronic gel as lubricant. The hyaluronic gel acts as an effective intermediate medium. It adheres very well to both, a-C:H coating and zirconia. No wear was evident on the ZrO2 ball at 1 Hz and 100 N. Minor wear traces were observed on the a-C:H coating only. A wear coefficient of 0.16 × 10−6 mm3/N·m were calculated for a-C:H coated CoCrMo after ZrO2 ball sliding with 1 Hz and 100 N in hyaluronic gel. This is two orders of magnitude lower in comparison to dry sliding of ZrO2 ball against DLC coated CoCrMo with 1 Hz. The coefficient of friction (COF) remained below 0.09 until the hyaluronic gel starts to lose viscosity. This finding pronounces the importance of a proper homogeneous lubrication during operation of the biomedical joints. For extreme harsh tribological loading like sudden jumps of a patient with artificial joints, the application of an intermediate layer before a-C:H coating needs further evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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19 pages, 9846 KiB  
Article
Tribocorrosion Behaviour of Ti6Al4V Produced by Selective Laser Melting for Dental Implants
by Luís M. Vilhena, Ahmad Shumayal, Amílcar Ramalho and José António Martins Ferreira
Lubricants 2020, 8(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8020022 - 21 Feb 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3129
Abstract
Additively produced Ti6Al4V implants display mechanical properties that are economically infeasible to achieve with conventional subtractive methods. The aim of the present research work was to characterize the tribocorrosion behaviour of the newly produced Ti6Al4V, also known as titanium grade 5, by a [...] Read more.
Additively produced Ti6Al4V implants display mechanical properties that are economically infeasible to achieve with conventional subtractive methods. The aim of the present research work was to characterize the tribocorrosion behaviour of the newly produced Ti6Al4V, also known as titanium grade 5, by a selective laser melting (SLM) technique and compare it with another specimen produced by a conventional method. It was found that the tribological properties were of the same order, with the wear rate being k= 6.3 × 10−4 mm3/N·m and k = 8.3 × 10−4 mm3/N·m for respectively, SLM and conventional method. Regarding the friction behaviour, both methods exhibited similar COF in the order of 0.41–0.51. However, electrochemically, the potentiodynamic polarization curves presented some differences mainly in the potential range of the passive films and passive current density formed, with the passive current density being lower for the SLM method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Biomaterials)
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