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Influence of dynamic load on friction behavior of human articular cartilage, stainless steel and polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as artificial cartilage

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Abstract

Many biomaterials are being developed to be used for cartilage substitution and hemiarthroplasty implants. The lubrication property is a key feature of the artificial cartilage. The frictional behavior of human articular cartilage, stainless steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel were investigated under cartilage-on-PVA hydrogel contact, cartilage-on-cartilage contact and cartilage-on-stainless steel contact using pin-on-plate method. Tests under static load, cyclic load and 1 min load change were used to evaluate friction variations in reciprocating motion. The results showed that the lubrication property of cartilage-on-PVA hydrogel contact and cartilage-on-stainless steel contact were restored in both 1 min load change and cyclic load tests. The friction coefficient of PVA hydrogel decreased from 0.178 to 0.076 in 60 min, which was almost one-third of the value under static load in continuous sliding tests. In each test, the friction coefficient of cartilage-on-cartilage contact maintained far lower value than other contacts. It is indicated that a key feature of artificial cartilage is the biphasic lubrication properties.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the national natural science foundation of China (No. 50535050). Articular cartilage donations by Shanghai Changzheng hospital were greatly appreciated. Many thanks to Prof. Zhang Dekun, Dr. Wang Shibo and Dr. Meng Baoxing of China University of Mining and Technology for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, 200240

    Feng Li, Yonglin Su, Jianping Wang & Chengtao Wang

  2. College of Mechanical and Material Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Hubei, 443002, China

    Gang Wu

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  1. Feng Li
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  2. Yonglin Su
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  3. Jianping Wang
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  4. Gang Wu
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  5. Chengtao Wang
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Correspondence to Chengtao Wang.

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Li, F., Su, Y., Wang, J. et al. Influence of dynamic load on friction behavior of human articular cartilage, stainless steel and polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as artificial cartilage. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 21, 147–154 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-009-3863-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-009-3863-5

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