On the matter of synovial fluid lubrication: implications for Metal-on-Metal hip tribology
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Myant, C
Cann, P
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Artificial articular joints present an interesting, and difficult, tribological problem. These bearing contacts undergo complex transient loading and multi axes kinematic cycles, over extremely long periods of time (>10 years). Despite extensive research, wear of the bearing surfaces, particularly metal–metal hips, remains a major problem. Comparatively little is known about the prevailing lubrication mechanism in artificial joints which is a serious gap in our knowledge as this determines film formation and hence wear. In this paper we review the accepted lubrication models for artificial hips and present a new concept to explain film formation with synovial fluid. This model, recently proposed by the authors, suggests that interfacial film formation is determined by rheological changes local to the contact and is driven by aggregation of synovial fluid proteins. The implications of this new mechanism for the tribological performance of new implant designs and the effect of patient synovial fluid properties are discussed.
Date Issued
2014-06-01
Date Acceptance
2013-12-14
Citation
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2014, 34 (1), pp.338-348
ISSN
1751-6161
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
338
End Page
348
Journal / Book Title
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume
34
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2014, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175161611300427X
Grant Number
EP/G026114/1
EP/H020837/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Engineering
Materials Science
ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL
MATERIALS SCIENCE, BIOMATERIALS
Metal-on-Metal hips
Artificial joints
Film thickness
Wear
Bovine serum
Synovial fluid
ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
BOUNDARY LUBRICATION
PROTEIN AGGREGATION
JOINT LUBRICATION
FILM FORMATION
IN-VITRO
WEAR
SIMULATOR
BEARINGS
IMPLANTS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2014-01-08