Tribological characteristics of polyethylene bearings of knee prostheses Online publication date: Fri, 18-Dec-2009
by Francis E. Kennedy, Douglas W. Van Citters, John P. Collier
International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering (IJSURFSE), Vol. 4, No. 2, 2010
Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of tribological failure of artificial knee prostheses. The clinical problem is introduced by analysis of worn knee bearings made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Three different failure mechanisms are described: subsurface-originated contact fatigue failure, surface-originated wear of the articulating surface, and surface-originated wear of the back (non-articulating) surface. The wear processes were simulated in a rolling/sliding wear tester built for this specific purpose. The influence of gamma-irradiation dose on wear and contact fatigue was determined. Wear was greatest at the portion of the wear track where the lubricating fluid film was thinnest and a boundary or mixed lubrication regime prevailed.
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