Relation between the squeeze film and lubrication state of artificial cartilage in the pseudo synovial fluid

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H) is proposed as a candidate material for cartilage of an artificial joint. PVA-H is expected to achieve the fluid film lubrication by the squeeze film. On the other hand, there are rarely studies about when the squeeze film formed and how effective the squeeze film was. The purpose of this study is to observe the formation of squeeze film between PVA-H and glass surface. In this study, contact area between the PVA-H and glass was observed by using total internal reflection method simultaneously with the measurement of friction force. A repeated loading-unloading mechanism so as to reproduce natural synovial joint was adopted in this study.