Characterization of Tribocorrosion Behaviour of CoCr Alloy by Electrochemical Techniques in Several Corrosive Media

Abstract

Substitution of hip and knee joints by CoCr alloys is in great demand due to their high wear resistance and good biocompatibility. Understanding of tribocorrosion in joint replacements requires study of variables such as coefficient of friction and the choice of a proper corrosive medium in wear-corrosion tests carried out in the lab. The objective of this study was to characterize tribocorrosion behaviour of CoCr alloy with low (LCCoCr) and high carbon (HCCoCr) contents in several corrosive media: NaCl, Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS), and PBS with hyaluronic acid (PBS-HA). Tribocorrosion tests were carried out on a pin-on-disk tribometer with an integrated electrochemical cell. A normal load of 5N was applied on the alumina ball counterpart at a rotation rate of 120 rpm. Coefficient of friction (COF) was measured and tribocorrosion behaviour was characterized by in situ application of electrochemical techniques. HCCoCr alloy immersed in PBS-HA showed the best tribocorrosion behaviour with the lowest COF. In this case, in situ measurement of corrosion potential and the impedance data under wear corrosion process showed an active state while passive film was continuously destroyed without possibility of regeneration.