Wear of the artificial hip joint material under lubrication

Abstract

A study of wear properties of hip-replacement materials, namely high-nitrogen stainless-steel femoral heads and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), was conducted in a non-conforming apparatus using various liquid lubricants. The liquids used were normal saline solution, sodium azide solution, pure ethanol, aqueous hyaluronic acid and aqueous hyaluronic acid/cholesterol and cholesterol palmitate liquid crystal lubricant. Saline solution proved to be unsuitable as a lubricant while sodium azide that was used as a bactericide provided some evidence of mixed lubrication. A bactericide was included to overcome degradation. The aqueous hyaluronic acid exhibited cushion form lubrication as evidenced by retention of the original polymer surface features within the wear indent. Cholesterol addition showed little improvement on the wear properties but massively increased the bacterial activity. Again, inclusion of a bactericide was necessary. Liquid crystal lubricant significantly reduced wear and the atomic force microscope (AFM) showed that the liquid crystal formed protective layers on the counter face surfaces. The sub-surface of the polymer possessed plastic creep under load but low adhesive wear was present. There also was an absence of sub-micron polymer debris. It was concluded that a dramatic reduction in wear could be achieved by incorporation of liquid crystal lubricant in hip-replacement elements. 

Friction and wear properties of graphene oxide/ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene composites under the lubrication of deionized water and normal saline solution

“…The variation tendency and the correlation coefficients of the WRs of these composites were about −0.998 and −0.988 in the two lubrication conditions, respectively ( p < 0.05; Figure and Table ). Furthermore, it might have been related to the corrosion effect in NS that a much higher WR was found in the lubrication condition of NS than in those of DW . The damage caused by friction decreased because the stress was effectively transferred by the inorganic filler of GO, which was uniformly distributed in the UHMWPE matrix .…”

Liquid Crystals in Tribology

“…Waters, et al [ 24 ] found that cholesterol palmitate liquid crystal lubricant significantly reduced wear and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the liquid crystal formed protective layers on the counterface surfaces, high-nitrogen stainless-steel femoral heads and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). It was concluded that a dramatic reduction in wear could be achieved by incorporation of liquid crystal lubricant in hip-replacement elements.…”

Lubrication and Dynamically Controlled Drug Release Properties of Tween 85/Tween 80/H2O Lamellar Liquid Crystals

“…example, Waters et al found that cholesteryl palmitate liquid crystal lubricants formed a protective layer on the surface of hip replacement materials and dramatically reduced wear. 17 However, studies rarely focused on both the lubrication effect and the dynamic drug release. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate the friction-reducing and antiwear properties of the drug-loaded liquid crystal system and the controlled release of drugs under dynamic conditions.…”

“…On the other hand, the lubrication performance of liquid crystals can be used for joint lubrication. For example, Waters et al found that cholesteryl palmitate liquid crystal lubricants formed a protective layer on the surface of hip replacement materials and dramatically reduced wear . However, studies rarely focused on both the lubrication effect and the dynamic drug release.…”