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Authors
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Kreer, T.
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Title
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Polymer-brush lubrication: How your artificial knee lasts longer
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Date
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09.09.2016
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Number
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51423
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Abstract
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The desire to minimize friction between surfaces is as old as human civilization. While the architects of the Egyptian pyramids used water and sand, modern machine parts typically are lubricated by oil. Nature has found superior solutions. Mammalian joints, such as the human knee or hip, are subject to pressures of up to 50 atmospheres. They are lubricated by polymer brushes, which results in ultra-low friction that allows synovial joints to withstand a lifetime of wear and tear without the joint seizing.<br />Polymer brushes are comprised of polymer chains that are attached with one end to a surface. A polymer chain is a sequence of connected and repeating monomers, like the pearls of a necklace (Fig. 1). If the amount of polymers on the surface is large enough, the individual chains repel each other. This causes the attached chains to stretch away from the surface.
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Publisher
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Atlas of Science : another view on science
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Wikidata
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Citation
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Atlas of Science : another view on science (2016) 2p.
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DOI
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http://atlasofscience.org/polymer-brush-lubrication-how-your-artificial-knee-lasts-longer/
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