Effects of different factors on the friction and wear mechanical properties of titanium alloy materials with cortical bones at near service conditions

Abstract Artificial joint is one of the most effective methods to treat joint injuries. The service performance of artificial joints is gradually bad due to the wear of artificial joints in actual service. In order to obtain the potential failure mechanism of the artificial joint in actual service, the study started with the multiple factors that affect the service performance of the artificial joint. The experimental study was carried out on the change rule of mechanical behavior of the contact interface between the artificial joint of titanium alloy and cortical bone. The multifactor of the research is compression load, contact load, friction velocity and lubrication environment. The results indicate that the friction coefficient, wear mass and wear coefficient of Ti-6A1-4V titanium alloy decrease with the increase of compression load. The friction rate and the friction coefficient of Ti-6A1-4V titanium alloy are decreasing with the increase of contact load. The wear mass and friction coefficient of Ti-6A1-4V titanium alloy increase with the increase of contact load. The friction coefficient, wear mass and wear coefficient of the wet friction test with the lubricant of bovine serum albumin are lower than those of the dry friction test. The lubrication effect is better as the increase of lubricant concentration. Based on the observation of the electron microscope, The wear type influenced by compression load is mainly abrasive wear and oxidation wear. The wear type influenced by compression load is mainly abrasive wear and oxidation wear. The wear type influenced by friction rate is mainly abrasive wear and oxidation wear. The wear type influenced by lubricants is mainly oxidation wear. When wear mass and wear coefficient are used as the criteria for evaluating friction and wear, the order of influential factors to friction and wear of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy plate is friction rate> compression load >contact load>lubricant concentration. The research result can provide a theoretical reference for the optimal manufacture of the artificial joint of titanium alloy and optimal rules of safe service conditions.