[An investigation of the bio-tribological performance of diamond-like carbon/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene couple].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the friction property of diamond-like carbon (DLC) film/Ti6Al4V gradient material sliding against UHMWPE couple.


METHODS
Tests of this couple were made under dry sliding and lubrication of Hank's solution and 0.9% NaCl solution respectively, and they were compared with the friction property of Ti6Al4V sliding against UHMWPE couple. The tests were performed on an SRV friction and wear tester by means of surface-contact and coefficients of friction were recorded real-time.


RESULTS
DLC film could reduce the friction coefficient evidently. The coefficients of friction reduced 24%, 5.0%, 10% than these of Ti6Al4V under dry sliding and lubrication of Hank's solution and 0.9% NaCl solution respectively. Mechanism of friction was also studied by observing scanning electrical microscopy (SEM) morphology of frictional surfaces.


CONCLUSIONS
Friction-reduction mechanism of DLC film/Ti6Al4V could be resulted from amorphous structure of DLC film which was smooth and hard.
Jiang
S W
SW
The Center for Biomedical Engineering, 373#, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Yin
G F
GF
Zheng
C Q
CQ
Zhang
L
L
Meng
Y G
YG
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon; D017276:Friction; D008153:Lubrication; D008422:Materials Testing; D011095:Polyethylenes
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; D002244:Carbon