title: Micro/nanoscale mechanical and tribological characterization of SiC for orthopedic applications.
abstract: Micro/nanomechanical and tribological characterization of SiC has been carried out. For comparison, measurements on SiC, CoCrMo, Ti-6Al-4V, and stainless steel have also been made. Hardness and elastic modulus of these materials were measured by nanoindentation using a nanoindenter. The nanoindentation impressions were imaged using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Scratch, friction, and wear properties were measured using an accelerated microtribometer. Scratch and wear damages were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that SiC exhibits higher hardness, elastic modulus, scratch resistance as well as lower friction with fewer and smaller debris particles compared to other materials. These results show that SiC possesses superior mechanical and tribological properties that make it an ideal material for use in orthopedic and other biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA. lixiao@engr.sc.edu
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xinnan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bondokov
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Yuehuei H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Tangali S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sudarshan
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004548:Elasticity; D004868:Equipment Failure; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D017655:Silicon Compounds; C022088:silicon carbide