Friction properties of novel PVP/PVA blend hydrogels as artificial cartilage

摘要

In this work, novel polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinylalcohol (PVA) blend hydrogels were prepared by repeated freezing-thawing cycles. The factors that influenced friction properties of blend hydrogels, such as PVP content, contact load, sliding speed, and lubrication condition, were mainly studied by sliding with stainless steel ball. The results showed that friction coefficients of the PVP/PVA blend hydrogels were definitely dependent on such influence factors. The friction system consisting of blend hydrogel and stainless steel ball nearly exhibited a mixed lubrication regime especially under bovine serum lubrication, and it can be proposed as a promising method to reduce wear of the prosthesis.