Surface structuring to reduce friction & wear at low congruency ceramic sliding pairings

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Jan Philippe Kretzer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Mantwill
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 419981660

The long-term objective is the universal use of textured ceramic-ceramic bearing couples for artificial joint replacement in order to improve the durability of the protheses. As part of the research project applied for, surface structures for favorable lubrication conditions and reduced friction are to be defined and optimized by analyizing the mechanisms of action. For this purpose, a complex an validated simulation model imitating an experimental test setup should be developed to analyze a variety of structures with regard to the mechanisms of action between the surface topography and the lubrication conditions and to derive optimal surface structures respecting active load collectives. The aim is to gradually approximate the geometry of anatomical joints and biomechanical load collectives in order to carefully evaluate the influence of varying structures. The simulation results are to be continously verfied and complimented by experimental friction and wear tests. In the applied research project, the results of the preliminary study should also be taken into account where for a flat-on-flat configuration with low surface pressure and dimple structuring, a friction reduction of 23% and a wear reduction of 48% could be achieved. The aim is to achieve for low-congruent contacts under complex, biomechanical load collectives. a final friction reduction of 40% and a reduction in wear of 60%

• DFG Programme: Research Grants