A Review of Tribological Behavior of Different Bio-Implant Materials

Biomedical implants are extensively gaining popularity owing to ever increasing health complications and growth in trauma numbers globally. Metallic implants are the most widely used bio-implants for various orthopedics and dentistry related problems owing to their superior mechanical strength when compared to ceramics and polymers. Furthermore, titanium alloys are the preferred choice these days, because of their proximate nature to human bone and light weight. However, few shortcomings make these artificial bio-implants capricious like short life span, wear rate, surface finish, etc. Tribological behavior and performance affect the life of the implant, and has to be improved for longer sustainability of the implants. Wear tests can help in predicting the life of the movable sliding joints in bio-implants. This paper includes a review about the properties of the bio material, wear tests results, and their wear mechanisms. Further, the limitation and scope of biomaterial implants from tribological aspects of various bio-materials are reviewed.