Sliding Direction Dependence of Polyethylene Wear for Metal Counterface Traverse of Severe Scratches

Liam P Glennon; Thomas E Baer; James A Martin; William D Lack; Thomas D Brown

doi:10.1115/1.2947157

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Sliding Direction Dependence of Polyethylene Wear for Metal Counterface Traverse of Severe Scratches

Journal article

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Sliding Direction Dependence of Polyethylene Wear for Metal Counterface Traverse of Severe Scratches

Liam P Glennon, Thomas E Baer, James A Martin, William D Lack and Thomas D Brown

Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.130(5), pp.051006-051006 (7 )

10/01/2008

DOI: 10.1115/1.2947157

PMCID: PMC2593892

PMID: 19045513

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2593892View

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Abstract

Third-body effects appear to be responsible for an appreciable portion of the wear rate variability within cohorts of patients with metal-on-polyethylene joint replacements. The parameters dominating the rate of polyethylene debris liberation by counterface scratches are not fully understood, but one seemingly contributory factor is the scratch’s orientation relative to the direction of instantaneous local surface sliding. To study this influence, arrays of 550 straight parallel scratches each representative of the severe end of the clinical range were diamond stylus-ruled onto the surface of polished stainless steel plates. These ruled plates were then worn reciprocally against polyethylene pins (both conventional and highly cross-linked) at traverse angles varied parametrically relative to the scratch direction. Wear was measured gravimetrically, and particulate debris was harvested and morphologically characterized. Both of the polyethylene variants tested showed pronounced wear rate peaks at acute scratch traverse angles (15deg for conventional and 5deg for cross-linked), and had nominally comparable absolute wear rate magnitudes. The particulate debris from this very aggressive test regime primarily consisted of extremely large and elongated strands, often tens or even hundreds of microns in length. These data suggest that counterface damage regions with preferential scratch directionality can liberate large amounts of polyethylene debris, apparently by a slicing/shearing mechanism, at critical (acute) attack angles. However, the predominant manifestation of this wear volume was in the form of particles far beyond the most osteolytically potent size range.

wear

biomechanics

polymers

stainless steel

prosthetics

biomedical materials

Details

Title: Subtitle: Sliding Direction Dependence of Polyethylene Wear for Metal Counterface Traverse of Severe Scratches
Creators: Liam P Glennon - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation,and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
Thomas E Baer - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
James A Martin - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
William D Lack - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation,and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
Thomas D Brown - Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.130(5), pp.051006-051006 (7 )
DOI: 10.1115/1.2947157
PMID: 19045513
PMCID: PMC2593892
NLM abbreviation: J Biomech Eng
ISSN: 0148-0731
eISSN: 1528-8951
Publisher: ASME
Language: English
Date published: 10/01/2008
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Record Identifier: 9984040282102771

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