Journal of Bionic Engineering

Volume 14, Issue 4, October 2017, Pages 640-647

Xiaoduo Zhao, Dangsheng Xiong, Xinxin Wu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China

Abstract  Carbon Fiber (CF) reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite is one of the most promising implant biomaterials used in orthopedics. In this article, unfilled PEEK and CF/PEEK specimens were prepared by vacuum hot pressing method, and their tribological properties were evaluated by sliding against a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) alloy block. The influences of mass fraction of carbon fibers in CF/PEEK and the surface oxidation treatment of carbon fibers were explored. The results showed that the water contact angles on the surfaces of CF/PEEK specimens decreased, indicating that their surface wettability was improved. The hardness value of CF/PEEK was significantly improved, the friction coefficients of CF/PEEK were effectively reduced and its wear resistance was enhanced compared with unfilled PEEK. The leading effect on CF/PEEK tribological properties was the mass fraction of CF, followed by surface oxidation of CF, and the calf serum solution had better lubricity than that of saline and deionized water.

Key words：  CF/PEEK biocomposites      surface oxidation treatment      lubrication      wear mechanism

Full text is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672652916604304