INVESTIGATION OF WEAR PARTICLES OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL JOINTS

USING FERROGRAPHY TECHNIQUE

Sayed Y. Akl
The British University in Egypt (BUE)
Cairo, Egypt

Introduction:

Wear is one of the three basic disciplines of Tribology, the science dealing with the interaction of
surfaces in contact and in relative motion. Wear is resulting from friction between the surfaces
and it is normally intended to decrease wear and friction through a lubricant, [1,2]. Wear
particles analysis is used for monitoring the contact condition. Qualitative, quantitative and
morphological data could be obtained from the wear particle analysis through the periodically
taken samples of the lubricant [2-8]. Two main techniques are used for oil analysis, spectrometry
and ferrography. Ferrography analysis could be done using analytical ferrograph or direct
reading ferrograph. Examples of different wear particles are shown in Fig.1, [9]

Cutting Wear particles Spherical particles Gear particle Bearing Particle

Fig.1 Wear particles Types

Tribology in human joints:

Human joints are considered a typical example of two bodies in contact, hips, knees, ankles,
shoulders, elbows and finger joints [10]. In the human joint, we find the bones, cartilage and
synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is responsible for joint lubrication. Normal healthy synovial fluid is
highly non-Newtonian fluid i.e. the viscosity reduces with increasing the shear rate.
The tribological behavior of human joints provides a lubricating regime which results in:
• The ability of the joint to operate under a wide range of conditions from high
loads at low speeds to low loads at higher speeds
• The ability to go from rest to motion under different conditions
• Low friction conditions, typically from 0.003 to 0.015 which could last up to 70
years and more

Wear particles are generated from cartilages and bones and released into the synovial flu
Fig.2 Human Joint

Artificial joints:

Due to joint disease, a huge number of joint replacement is recorded and different materials are
used, beside the required reliable function of the joint, the material should be compatible with
the surrounding without any problem.
Large number of joint simulators are constructed under the conditions simulating those in the
human bodies.The evaluation of the frictional behavior of the new material should be carried
out to be sure that frictional forces will not be so large. The wear rate and wear debris should
be investigated and tests should be conducted in vivo and ex vivo.
Most of artificial joints consists of polymer socket and metal ball or metal-on-metal
combination connected to adjoining bones with screws or cement. By time wear particles will
be produced, [10].
Materials examples:
• Metals: Cr, Fe, Ni, Mo, Co
• Polymers: Polyethylene
• Ceramics: AL2O3
• Bone cement
Fig.3 Artificial Joint

Analysis of wear debris in human joints using Bio-Ferrography:

Bio-ferrography is used to analyse the debris found in natural and artificial joints (synovial fluid).
Debris materials could be metals, polymers, ceramics, cements as well as cartilage and bone
materials, [11-15].
It is an alternative method for disease diagnosis especially in the early stages, where other
methods could be insensitive X-ray or expensive magnetic resonance.
After extraction of synovial fluid, centrifugation process is done to separate the particles.
A magnetic compound is used to magnetize the non-magnetic particles before passing through
the device
Wear particles are captured on glass slide allowing examination, (quantity, composition,
morphology)
Bone particles have angular shape. Bone particles are generated at higher grade of
disease compared with cartilage particles, (less cartilage to cartilage contact)
Cartilage particles have laminate shape
The chemical composition indicates the particle origin, Ca and in Collagen I refers to
bone fragments where Ca and in collagen II refers to particles from the interface
between bone and cartilage, S and in collagen II refers to collagen fragments where S
and in collagen I refers to repaired cartilage
Chunky particles appear with high grade of disease and irregular shapes may appear
The friction coefficient for metals with polymer composite joint is about half of all metal
joint for tests in synovial fluid or other protein bearing liquid.
Alumina articulations are claimed to give very low friction coefficients
The wear of carbon fiber filled polymer composites is lower than that the unfilled ones,
wear mechanism is initially adhesive followed by abrasive action of wear debris
Metallic wear particles have irregular shapes and sharp edges where polymer particles
are grains, platelets, needles or threads
Particles of bone cements are fragments or pieces broken of balls where ceramics have
fine grains and straight boundaries
Wear rate depends on disease grade, implant design and operating conditions

Fig.4 Bio-Ferrography
Fig.5 Results about Particles Characterization

CONCLUSIONS:

• Based on the results of this review the following conclusions and recommendations
are presented:
• Triblogical phenomena and concepts are found in human joints (natural/artificial)
• Ferrography technique ( Bio-ferrography ) is a powerful tool for wear particle
analysis in human joints, monitoring their conditions and optimizing the design
parameters for the artificial joints (a datum is to established for monitoring
purposes)
• More effort is required from engineers and osteologists to enhance the
applications of Bio- ferrography and its expansion for further diseases detection
like cancer. Application of advanced materials is recommended (nano-materials)
in manufacturing artificial joints ( less friction/less wear/high strength/good
biocompatibility)

• An atlas for wear particles in human joints could be established as a result of

studying many case histories. This will be very helpful tool in diagnosis and
condition monitoring purposes.
 References:

1. Czichos, H., ‘’Tibology, a system approach to the science and technology of

friction, lubrication and wear” Elsevier, 1978.

2. Gwidon, W., Andrew, W., “Engineering Tribology” Elsevier, 2005.

3. Akl, E., “La methode Ferrographique, Morphologie, Avaries, Etude de la

separation, Morphologie des particules dans un contact Hertzian lubrifie,
Applications aux mecanismes d’avaries”, These Doct. Ing. I.N.S.A., Lyon, France,
(1983).

4. Akl, E., Khalifa, S., Flamand L., Berthe, D., “Investigation Of Wear Debris
Associated With Different Stages Of Operation In E.H.D Contact”, Second
A.S.A.T. Conference, Military Technical College, April 21-23,1987, Cairo, Egypt.

5. Akl, E., “Wear Particle Analysis for Machinery Condition Monitoring”, Tech &
Armament”, Volume 6, January, 1991, Cairo, Egypt.

6. Akl, E., Abdel-Rehim, A., “Condition monitoring of a single cylinder engine

running on gasoline and gasoline ethanol blend using wear particle analysis
technique”, ASME 2013, International Mechanical Engineering Congress and
Exposition, IMECE2013, November 15-21, 2013, San Diego, CA, USA.

7. Peng, Z., Kessissoglou, N., ‘’An integrated approach to fault diagnosis of

machinery using wear debris and vibration analysis’’. Wear, 2013,255
(7-12). pp. 1221-1232.

8. Seifert, W.W., Westcott, V.C., ‘’ A method for the study of wear particles in
lubricating oil’’, Wear, Volume 21, Issue 1, August 1972, pp. 27-42.

9. Wear Particle Atlas, Database of Wear & Contaminant Particles in Used

Lubricants.

10. Dumbleton, John H. ‘’Tribology of Natural and Artificial Joints’’, Elsevier, 1981.

11. Eliaz, H.‘’Bio-ferrography may be useful in ascertaining joint and implant wear’’,
Orthopedics Today, 7th of December 2010.

12. Meyer, Donna M., Tillinghast, A., Hannumara, Nevan C. and Franco, A. ‘’ Bio-
Ferrography to Capture and Separate Polyethylene Wear Debris from Hip
Simulator Fluid and Compared with Conventional Filter Method’’, Tribology, v
128, issue 2, Nov. 2005.
13. ‘’Monitoring wear in helicopters -- and hips, knees and ankles, too’’, Tel Aviv
University researchers apply an industrial monitoring technique to orthopedic
diagnoses, Public release date: 23-Nov-2010.

14. Mendel, K., Eliaz, N., Benhar, I., Hendel, D., Halperin, N., ‘’Magnetic isolation of
particles suspended in synovial fluid for diagnosticsof natural joint
chondropathies’’, Acta Biomaterialia ,Volume 6, Issue 11, November 2010.

15. Milne AD, Evans NA, Stanish WD. Nonoperative management of knee
osteoarthritis: Diagnosis,behavior modification,andpharmacologicoptions.
Women’sHealthPrimaryCare2000;3:841–6.