R.J.K. Wood
Published: 2013-09-30
Total Pages: 30
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The tribological performance of implant materials within the body where the pH can vary between 7.4 and 4.0, depending on whether the joint is infected or not, is extremely harsh and varies significantly from that experienced in other engineering environments. Three wear mechanisms that affect biomedical and, in particular, orthopaedic implants are regularly reported. These are adhesion, abrasion and fatigue. The wear mechanisms in biomedical implants, particularly hip joints, are reported to be a function of the following variables: type of materials used, contact stresses, lubricants and clearance, surface hardness and roughness, type of articulation due to motion, number of cycles, solution particle count and distribution, and tribocorrosion.