A Comparative Study of Friction and Wear Processes of Model Metallic Biomaterials Including Registration of Friction-Induced Temperature Response of a Tribological Pair

Nowadays, metallic alloys are extensively used in wear-related biomedical applications. However, it was shown that one of the factors which may contribute to the premature implant failure is the temperature effect caused by the sliding action between the bearing surfaces. Nevertheless, there are not many papers where the wear-related temperature phenomena of biomedical alloys are discussed. Thus, in our paper, we present findings from the tribological tests of the model metallic biomaterials—316L steel, CoCrMo alloy and Ti gr. 2. In our study, the temperature alterations induced by the wear action of the examined materials were analyzed. According to the findings, the temperature response of the biomedical alloys is tribological pair dependent. While the mass loss of the tribological pair 316L–316L steel was the slightest, at the same time the temperature increase was the greatest. Based on the presented findings, further analyses in friction-induced temperature response of biomedical alloys is recommended.