Al2O3 and Al2O3—TiN wear resistance in a simulated biological environment

Author: Bégin-Colin S.   Mocellin A.   Stebut J.V.   Bordji K.   Mainard D.  

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

ISSN: 0022-2461

Source: Journal of Materials Science, Vol.33, Iss.11, 1998-06, pp. : 2837-2843

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Alumina is widely used as a biomaterial because of its high biocompatibility and its good mechanical properties except toughness. In this study, a composite material Al_2O_3–TiN is considered as an alternative, the addition of TiN improving the mechanical properties of alumina. The wear behaviour of Al_2O_3 and Al_2O_3–TiN in aqueous solutions simulating living environments has been thus compared using a pin on disc wear-testing machine. The results show that the mechanisms of material removal during wear are different. For alumina, a mechanical wear mechanism is observed, reduced by the lubricating action of the wet media, and alumina–TiN is worn by a combination of tribochemical and abrasive effects.