Influence of loose PMMA bone cement particles on the corrosion assisted wear of the orthopedic AISI 316LVM stainless steel during reciprocating sliding

Abstract

Corrosion assisted wear behavior of orthopedic AISI 316LVM stainless steel is explored by using tribological tests and SEM/EDS analysis. Wear mechanisms were investigated in three different environments, under reciprocating sliding at micro-loads. Variation of the sliding speed was also observed. Samples were subjected to the dry sliding, sliding in Ringer's solution and in Ringer's solution containing PMMA bone cement particles. Influence of the loose PMMA particles on the corrosion and wear of the orthopedic AISI 316LVM stainless steel during reciprocating sliding was investigated.Experimental data showed that the presence of the cement particles in Ringer's solution had deleterious influence on the wear of the 316LVM steel. Cement particles were embedded into the surface of the flat steel sample and represented non-metallic inclusions highly contributing to the increase of the corrosion assisted wear process. Pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) were all observed on the steel samples, especially under the lowest applied load (100. mN). Governing wear mechanism was abrasive wear together with corrosion assisted wear in wet environments. Plastic deformation controlled wear was observed for the higher loads (250-1000. mN). Sliding speed showed no influence on the wear level. © 2013 Elsevier B.V..