EFFECT OF SYNOVIA CONSTITUENTS ON FRICTION AND WEAR OF ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE SLIDING AGAINST PROSTHETIC JOINT MATERIALS

The effect of synovia constituents, such as a serum protein and hyalur onic acid, on the friction and wear of ultra-high molecular weight pol yethylene (UHMWPE) was examined in a pin-on-disk test apparatus. In th is study, UHMWPE pin specimens were articulated against stainless stee l (SUS316) and alumina ceramic disk specimens. Both saline and diluted bovine serum were used as lubricants. Albumin, a kind of serum protei n, and sodium hyaluronate were added to the saline respectively to ide ntify their effects on the friction and wear of UHMWPE. As a result, e ach of the synovia constituents had a different influence on the frict ion and wear of UHMWPE. The wear rate in the albumin solution was not so different from that in the diluted serum, but friction coefficient was higher and the morphology of the wear surfaces observed by scannin g electron microscope was quite different. On the other hand, hyaluron ic acid could reduce the friction and wear of UHMWPE. (C) 1998 Elsevie r Science S.A. All rights reserved.