Gb. Cornwall et al., The effect of kinematic conditions on the wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in orthopaedic bearing applications, P I MEC E H, 215(H1), 2001, pp. 95-106
Citations number
48
Categorie Soggetti
Mechanical Engineering
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART H-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
It is known that wear mechanisms differ between the ultra-high molecular we
ight polyethylene (UHMWPE) components of total hip replacement (THR) and to
tal knee replacement (TKR). The difference in relative contact position or
'kinematic conditions of contact' between the metal and polymer components
is thought to contribute to the contrast in observed wear mechanisms.
A reciprocating wear tester was used to evaluate three basic kinematic cont
act conditions: sliding, in which the relative contact position on the poly
mer remains stationary; gliding, where the contact position on the polymer
reciprocates: and rolling, where the contact position on the polymer varies
and the relative velocities of both components are equal.
All static load tests used cast Co-Cr alloy and irradiated Chirulen(R) UHMW
PE in a 37 degreesC environment lubricated with bovine serum albumin. UHMWP
E test sample wear was measured gravimetrically at intervals of 600 000 cyc
les. The results indicated a difference in wear factor (volume lost due to
wear per unit load per unit sliding distance) between the three groups with
varying relative motion. The study indicates that screening tests which ev
aluate wear properties of new materials for total joint replacement should
reflect the different kinematic contact conditions.