The Friction and Wear of Silicon Nitride Ceramic with BSA Lubricant

To research the friction and wear of silicon nitride ceramic with bovine serum albumin lubricant, the tribological properties of silicon nitride ceramic against stainless steel were investigated on CETR UMT-2 under lubrication of bovine serum albumin, deionized water, physiological saline and physiological saline mixed with bovine serum albumin. The worn surfaces of silicon nitride ceramic ball and stainless steel pin were examined with a digital microscope (VHX-2000). The friction coefficients of steady state are 0.26, 0.35, 0.69 and 0.8 under bovine serum albumin, physiological saline mixed with bovine serum albumin, physiological saline and deionized water. The lowest friction coefficient of steady state is 0.26 which is under lubrication of bovine serum albumin. The highest friction coefficient is 0.8 under the lubrication of deionized water. The measured worn areas of silicon nitride ceramic balls are 1282.3μm2, 1898.6μm2, 2753.9μm2 and 3645.7μm2 under bovine serum albumin, physiological saline mixed with bovine serum albumin, physiological saline and deionized water. The smallest worn area of silicon nitride ceramic ball is 1282.3μm2 which is measured under the lubrication of bovine serum albumin. The highest worn area of silicon nitride ceramic ball is 3645.7μm2 which was measured under the lubrication of deionized water. The same wear mechanism of silicon nitride ceramic ball had been found under the lubrication of bovine serum albumin, deionized water, physiological saline and physiological saline mixed with bovine serum albumin. The depth of scratches of worn surface of silicon nitride ceramic ball lubricated with BSA is 3μm which are the shallowest.