Abstract

In this study, the tribocorrosion behavior of the materials utilized in manufacturing of biomedical implants (Ti-6Al-4V and Co-Cr alloys) was studied in a laboratory simulated artificial saliva (SAS) solution by using a linear reciprocating ball-on-plate tribometer with an integrated electrochemical cell. The open circuit potential (OCP) and the friction coefficient were monitored during the reciprocating ball- on-plate test. During the OCP tribocorrosion tests, the generated wear debris was transferred into the SAS and increased its optical density of the solution along with large scatters in the OCP potential and friction coefficient. In accordance with its poor tribocorrosion performance, Ti-6Al-4V alloy provided a large amount of wear debris transfer into the SAS along with the heavy metal attachment to the contact surface of the alumina ball and heavy fluctuations in the OCP potential and friction coefficient values during the sliding. This suggests that the Co-Cr alloy has a higher load bearing capacity than the Ti-6Al-4V alloy.