This research is particularly focused on the abrasion-corrosion performance of a cast CoCrMo alloy (for resurfacing application) lubricated by simulated hip joint environments.
The alloy under test was subjected to corrosive electrolytes and abrasives, this allowed the wear/corrosion performance to be investigated under extreme conditions. A modified microabrasion tester that incorporated an electrochemical cell was used to monitor the wear/corrosion behaviour of the alloy in situ and in real time. The effects of solution chemistry and proteins on the wear rate (in terms of synergy), the corrosion level, and the depassivation/repassivation kinetics of teh CoCrMo alloy were all explored. Post-test analysis was also carried out to reveal the effect of proteins on the surface/sub-surface deformation which had been produced by the abrasion-corrosion processes; this is of particular interest for developing a better insight of MoM hip wear performance in vivo.