Molecular Tribology in the Biomaterials Environment

研究生物接触的边界润滑的基本性质。摩擦力显微镜将用于在分子水平上研究生物流体的边界层润滑特性。据推测，聚（环氧乙烷）、聚（乙二醇）和透明质酸的链分子会钝化固体表面，并在工业润滑剂中起到添加剂的作用。被这些层钝化的表面将与一系列参考生物材料表面相对，在明确的分子尺度上分离，摩擦力将被确定。原子光滑表面也将被研究。变量将是实际表面积，正常载荷，附着力和变形频率。

A study will be made of the fundamental nature of boundary lubrication of biological contacts. Friction force microscopy will be used to study the boundary layer lubricant properties of biological fluids at the molecular level. It is hypothesized that chain molecules of poly (ethylene oxide), poly (ethylene glycol), and hyaluronic acid will passivate the solid surface and play the roles of additives in industrial lubricants. Surfaces passivated by these layers will be opposed to a family of reference biomaterial surfaces at well-defined, molecular-scale separations and the friction forces will be determined. Atomically smooth surfaces will also be studied. Variables will be actual surface area, normal load, adhesion, and frequency of deformation.