Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tribocorrosion of Pulsed Plasma-Nitrided CoCrMo Implant Alloy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tribology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present study, a forged CoCrMo (ISO 5832-12) has been subjected to pulsed plasma treatment in a N2/H2 atmosphere at low temperatures (below 500 °C). This treatment resulted in the formation of a layer composed by dispersed chromium nitride particles in a N-enriched metal matrix. The materials were tested for corrosion and tribocorrosion performance in 0.9 wt% NaCl at room temperature under controlled electrochemical conditions. After the treatment, the alloy loses its passive nature. The electrode potential was found to critically affect the corrosion and the tribocorrosion rates. In the nitrided alloy, a significant increase of corrosion rate was found at high potentials, while tribocorrosion was determined mainly by mechanical wear and not affected by potential. On the other hand, the untreated CoCrMo alloy exhibited stable corrosion over a wide range of potentials. Its tribocorrosion rate was similar to the nitrided alloy samples at low potentials, but it increased dramatically at high potentials where passivity triggered severe wear-accelerated corrosion and promoted mechanical wear. The present study shows that the electrochemical conditions determine material deterioration and should therefore be considered when selecting materials for tribocorrosion applications such as biomedical implants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Passuhi, N., Philipeau, J.M., Gouin, F.: Friction couples in total hip replacement. Orthop. Traumatol. 95(4S), 27–34 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bauer, T.W.: Particles and periimplant bone resorption. Clin. Orthop. 405, 138–143 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wei, R., Booker, T., Rincon, C., Arps, J.: High-intensity plasma ion nitriding of orthopedic materials: Part I. Tribological study. Surf. Coat. Technol. 186, 305–313 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lanning, B.R., Wei, R.: High intensity plasma ion nitriding of orthopedic materials: Part II. Microstructural analysis. Surf. Coat. Technol. 186, 314–319 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Çelik, A., Bayrak, Ö., Alsaran, A., Kaymaz, İ., Yetim, A.F.: Effects of plasma nitriding on mechanical and tribological properties of CoCrMo alloy. Surf. Coat. Technol. 202, 2433–2438 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Pichon, L., Okur, S., Öztürk, O., Rivière, J.P., Drouet, M.: CoCrMo alloy treated by floating potential plasma assisted nitriding and plasma based ion implantation: influence of the hydrogen content and of the ion energy on the nitrogen incorporation. Surf. Coat. Technol. 204, 2913–2918 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Öztürk, O., Türkan, U., Eroğlu, A.: Metal ion release from nitrogen ion implanted CoCrMo orthopedic implant material. Surf. Coat. Technol. 200, 5687–5697 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Lutz, J., Mändl, S.: Reduced tribocorrosion of CoCr alloys in simulated body fluid after nitrogen insertion. Surf. Coat. Technol. 204, 3043–3046 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mischler, S.: Triboelectrochemical techniques and interpretation methods in tribocorrosion: a comparative evaluation. Tribol. Int. 41, 573–583 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wu, J.: Metallography and Microstructures of Cobalt and Cobalt Alloys, Metallography and Microstructures, vol. 9. ASM Handbook, ASM International, Materials Park, pp. 762–774 (2004)

  11. Suegama, P.H., Fugivara, C.S., Benedetti, A.V., Fernández, J., Espallargas, N., Delgado, J., Guilemany, J.M.: Microstructure and electrochemical studies of Cr3C2–NiCr coatings obtained by HVOF. In: Vargus, E.P. (ed.) New Researches on Electrochemistry, Chapter 4. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, p. 113 (2007)

  12. Azzi, M., Szpunar, J.A.: Tribo-electrochemical technique for studying tribocorrosion behavior of biomaterials. Biomol. Eng. 24, 443–446 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Green, S.M.: Deformation of materials. Curr. Orthop. 20, 9–15 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hodge, W.A., Carlson, K.L., Fijan, R.S., Burgess, R.G., Righley, P.O., Harris, W.H., Mann, R.W.: Contact pressures from an instrumented hip endoprosthesis. J. Bone Jt. Surg. 71, 1378–1386 (1989)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lutz, J., Gerlach, J.W., Mändl, S.: PIII nitriding of fcc-alloys containing Ni and Cr. Phys. Stat. Solidi (A) 205(4), 980–984 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Landolt, D.: Corrosion and Surface Chemistry of Metals. EPFL Press, Lausanne (2007)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Igual-Muñoz, A., Mischler, S.: Effect of the environment on wear ranking and corrosion of biomedical CoCrMo alloys. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 22(3), 437–450 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Espallargas, N., Mischler, S.: Dry wear and tribocorrosion mechanisms of pulsed plasma nitrided Ni–Cr alloy. Wear 270, 464–471 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bidiville, A., Favero, M., Stadelmann, P., Mischler, S.: Effect of surface chemistry on the mechanical response of metals in sliding tribocorrosion systems. Wear 263(1–6), 207–217 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Perret, J., Boehm-Courjault, E., Cantoni, M., Mischler, S.: EBSD, SEM and FIB characterisation of subsurface deformation during tribocorrosion of stainless steel in sulphuric acid. Wear 269, 383–393 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Favero, M., Stadelmann, P., Mischler, S.: Effect of the applied potential of the near surface microstructure of a 316L steel submitted to tribocorrosion in sulfuric acid. J. Appl. Phys. D 39(15), 3175–3183 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Espallargas, N., Mischler, S.: Tribocorrosion behaviour of overlay welded Ni–Cr 625 alloy in sulphuric and nitric acids: Electrochemical and chemical effects. Tribol. Int. 43(7), 1209–1217 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study is the result of a joint master thesis carried out between EPFL and NTNU by the master student A. Bazzoni. The financial support from the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology of NTNU is gratefully acknowledged. MOTecH Plasma AS (Norway) is thanked for allowing the authors for performing the pulsed plasma-nitriding treatments on the CoCrMo alloy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NTNU, Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, Department of Engineering Design and Materials, Tribology Laboratory, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    A. Bazzoni & N. Espallargas

  2. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Tribology and Interfacial Chemistry Group, Station 12, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    A. Bazzoni & S. Mischler

Authors
  1. A. Bazzoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Mischler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Espallargas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Espallargas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bazzoni, A., Mischler, S. & Espallargas, N. Tribocorrosion of Pulsed Plasma-Nitrided CoCrMo Implant Alloy. Tribol Lett 49, 157–167 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0047-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0047-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation