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Inlet protein aggregation: a new mechanism for lubricating film formation with model synovial fluids.

Fan, J; Myant, CW; Underwood, R; Cann, PM; Hart, A; (2011) Inlet protein aggregation: a new mechanism for lubricating film formation with model synovial fluids. Proc Inst Mech Eng H , 225 (7) 696 - 709. 10.1177/0954411911401306. Green open access

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Abstract

This paper reports a fundamental study of lubricant film formation with model synovial fluid components (proteins) and bovine serum (BS). The objective was to investigate the role of proteins in the lubrication process. Film thickness was measured by optical interferometry in a ball-on-disc device (mean speed range of 2-60 mm/s). A commercial cobalt-chromium (CoCrMo) metal femoral head was used as the stationary component. The results for BS showed complex time-dependent behaviour, which was not representative of a simple fluid. After a few minutes sliding BS formed a thin adherent film of 10-20 nm, which was attributed to protein absorbance at the surface. This layer was augmented by a hydrodynamic film, which often increased at slow speeds. At the end of the test deposited surface layers of 20-50 nm were measured. Imaging of the contact showed that at slow speeds an apparent 'phase boundary' formed in the inlet just in front of the Hertzian zone. This was associated with the formation of a reservoir of high-viscosity material that periodically moved through the contact forming a much thicker film. The study shows that proteins play an important role in the film-forming process and current lubrication models do not capture these mechanisms.

Type: Article
Title: Inlet protein aggregation: a new mechanism for lubricating film formation with model synovial fluids.
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/0954411911401306
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0954411911401306
Language: English
Additional information: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm).
Keywords: Albumins, Animals, Biomedical Engineering, Cattle, Equipment Failure Analysis, Hip Prosthesis, Humans, Lubrication, Models, Biological, Protein Multimerization, Surface Properties, Synovial Fluid, gamma-Globulins
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Ortho and MSK Science
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1464260
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