Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO2–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints

Jiang, Liwei; Li, Bo; Jia, Fanshuo; Wang, Guangjie; Liu, Yayun; Zhang, Kedong; Jiang, Ning; Wang, Chuanyang

doi:10.3390/lubricants13010023

Open AccessArticle

Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints

by

Liwei Jiang

¹,

Bo Li

²,

Fanshuo Jia

¹,

Guangjie Wang

¹,

Yayun Liu

^1,*

,

Kedong Zhang

¹,

Ning Jiang

¹ and

Chuanyang Wang

^1,*

¹

School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China

²

Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Yangquan Vocational and Technical College, Yangquan 045000, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Lubricants 2025, 13(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010023

Submission received: 2 December 2024 / Revised: 27 December 2024 / Accepted: 7 January 2025 / Published: 8 January 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Boundary and Thin Film Lubrication)

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Abstract

ZrO₂ ceramics, known for their high strength and wear resistance, are ideal for artificial joints. This study enhanced the friction performance of these joints by fabricating textured structures (50 μm width and 20–25 μm depth) on the ceramic surface. Friction tests, conducted at 200 r/min for 30 min with a 5–20 N load and lubricant concentration of 15–60 mg/mL using PEEK balls, showed that textured joints outperformed untextured ones. The symmetrical triangular structure had the lowest coefficient of friction and the best hydrophilicity, with a 53.0% reduction in the coefficient of friction and a 57.4% reduction in the contact angle compared to the untextured structure. The textures effectively store the PEEK residue and facilitate the smooth movement of the worn ball. Concurrently, the textured structure stores some of the lubricant, which reduces the static pressure during fluid flow by 12.6%. Overall, the friction performance of ZrO₂ ceramic artificial joints was significantly improved by the textured structures.

Keywords: texture; fluid flow simulation; lubricants; friction; wear; surface wettability

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MDPI and ACS Style

Jiang, L.; Li, B.; Jia, F.; Wang, G.; Liu, Y.; Zhang, K.; Jiang, N.; Wang, C. Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints. Lubricants 2025, 13, 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010023

AMA Style

Jiang L, Li B, Jia F, Wang G, Liu Y, Zhang K, Jiang N, Wang C. Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints. Lubricants. 2025; 13(1):23. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010023

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jiang, Liwei, Bo Li, Fanshuo Jia, Guangjie Wang, Yayun Liu, Kedong Zhang, Ning Jiang, and Chuanyang Wang. 2025. "Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints" Lubricants 13, no. 1: 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010023

APA Style

Jiang, L., Li, B., Jia, F., Wang, G., Liu, Y., Zhang, K., Jiang, N., & Wang, C. (2025). Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints. Lubricants, 13(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010023

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Frictional Behavior and Fluid Flow Simulation Analysis of Textured ZrO₂–Polyetheretherketone Artificial Knee Joints

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