Fretting-Corrosion of 316L Steel Metallic Biomaterial Methodological Aspects

Abstract

Methodological aspects of fretting and fretting-corrosion research of metallic biomaterials are presented in this article. At the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technical University of Bialystok tribometer device was constructed to test the fretting phenomenon with flat-on-flat contact configuration [. Based on the results of published research the fretting regimes were established. Values of the amplitude of reversible movement were 80-120 µm, the frequency was 1 Hz [2] and the value of the pressure was 20 MPa. Fretting-corrosion tests in simulated biological fluids should be performed in the three-electrode system in presence of the reference electrode and counter electrode along with the working electrode to the potentiostat. It is important to leave the system loaded and immersed for about 30 minutes prior to testing the potential of the system. During that time system potentials are stabilized. After that, acquiring data for fretting corrosion should be started with measurement potential/time changes [. A better understanding of the fretting processes will largely eliminate its effects at the construction design stage.