Contents of composites science and technology

Abstract

The key issue in bone implants biomechanics is – besides using biocompatible materials - the optimization of tribological properties of friction pairs occurring in joint implants e.g. knee and hip endoprothesis. Increasingly important role in these systems, alongside ceramics-on-ceramics and metal-on-metal, have metal-on-polymer friction pairs. Commonly used in orthopedics ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) does not meet the requirements of modern bone implants, mainly because of its harmful wear products which can cause inflammation and osteolysis of surrounding tissues after several years of using the endoprosthesis. Therefore, other polymer materials have been developed to replace UHMWPE, as well as several surface engineering methods are used for enhancing biocompatibility and tribological properties of applied materials. One of the materials to replace UHMWPE is increasingly used in medicine polyetheretherketone (PEEK) – a polymer material with a high biological indifference and mechanical properties.The article presents characteristics of TiN + Ti2N + αTi(N) nitrided layer produced on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy using glow discharge assisted nitriding process at the plasma potential, also known as the active screen plasma nitriding process and hydrogenated amorphous carbon doped with nitrogen layer a-C:N:H produced via RFCVD process on PEEK-based composite consisting of 10% graphite, 10% carbon fibers and 10% PTFE. Tribological properties of a-C:N:H – TiN + Ti2N + αTi(N) friction pair using “ball-on-disc” and “block-on-roll” tests were examined in correlation with microstructure (TEM, SEM, Raman spectroscopy) and surface morphology and topography (SEM, AFM, optical profilometer).The goal of this work is to present a new possibility of material solution for a ‘head-acetabulum’ friction pair in hip joint endoprosthesis using PEEK (PEEK T) as a replacement for commonly used UHMWPE and nitrided layer produced on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy using active screen plasma nitriding process.Amorphous carbon layer, 200 nm thick, produced on PEEK composite significantly improved tribological properties of PEEK composite – TiN (nanocrystalline) + Ti2N + αTi(N) layer friction pair, decreasing the friction coefficient by 2 times and minimizing wear of both used materials in the point contact (“ball-on-disc” method) and in surface contact (“block-on-roll” method).