Tribological behaviour of laser-textured UHMWPE under simulated dry and wet joint conditions using a biomimetic sunflower oil-hyaluronic acid lubricant

UHMWPE is a widely used biomaterial for articulating components in total joint replacements (TJR), but its lifetime performance was reduced by wear and friction. To enhance the performance, surface modification was introduced. This present study investigates the effect of circular texturing combined with biomimetic lubrication on the tribological properties of UHMWPE. A laser marking machine was used to do the surface texturing on the specimen. Pin-on-disc tribometer was used to conduct tribological experimental tests under both dry and wet conditions. A refined sunflower oil-hyaluronic acid blend is the lubricant. The experimental tests were conducted with different velocities of 0.05 m/s, 0.15 m/s, and 0.25 m/s, that are match the human motions and the applied force of 60 N. The results demonstrate that lubrication significantly reduced friction in wet conditions compared to dry conditions. Textured samples exhibit a declining trend in the friction when compared to untextured samples. The wear rates exhibited a comparable trend on both the textured and lubricated specimens by showing remarkably improved wear resistance. The hybrid application of surface texturing and lubrication resulted in a significant enhancement in the tribological performance of UHMWPE, suggesting promising implications for increasing the longevity of orthopaedic implants.