• Silva, Rf
• Gomes, Jr
• Santos, Jd
• Oliveira, Fj
• Amara, M.
• Abreu, C.

Abstract

The tribological behaviour of a new bioceramic material, a Si3N4-bioglass composite, is investigated. The experiments were performed in a pin-on-disc tribometer with constant sliding speed (0.1 ms(-1)) at two distinct loads (0.5N and 5N), in dry and wet (Hank's balanced salt solution, HBSS) conditions. In self-mated dry experiments, the 20wt% bioglass composite presents the lowest wear coefficient (K=3.7x10(-6)mm(3)N(-1)m(-1)) due to its. better intrinsic mechanical characteristics. Fine scale abrasion at low loads and extensive fracture at high loads were the main wear mechanisms. For lubricated experiments in HBSS media, both the wear and the friction coefficients decrease comparing to the dry sliding tests, namely under an applied load of 5N, that promotes the retention of a protective tribolayer. The best tribological system was the dissimilar pair Si3N4-20wt.% bioglass/UHMWPE, for which K=1.2x10(-6)mm(3)N(-1)m(-1) and K=7.1x10(-7)mm(3)N(-1)m(-1) in respectively, and f=0.1, exhibiting a considerable potential for prosthetic applications.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• experiment
• composite
• mass spectrometry