Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Surface tension of animal cartilage as it relates to friction in joints

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Measurements of the surface tension of articular cartilage and friction experiments were carried out to provide further evidence in support of a new theory regarding the mechanism of friction in joints. To determine the surface tension of cartilage, contact angle measurements were used in conjunction with the equation of state for interfacial tensions. The advancing contact angle between saline drops and articular cartilage was found to be 100°±5°, indicating a highly hydrophobic surface. The corresponding surface tension value was calculated to be 22.5 ergs/cm2. Friction of cartilage against hydrophobic surfaces is shown to be lower than the friction of cartilage against hydrophilic surfaces. All these results further support the theory that lubrication by nonwetting drops occurs in joints and may be responsible for the exceptional friction characteristics of the joints.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adamson, A.W.Physical Chemistry of Surfaces. 4th edition. New York: J. Wiley and Sons, 1982, pp. 23–25.

    Google Scholar 

  2. American Society of Lubrication Engineers.A Catalog of Friction and Wear Devices. A.S.L.E., 1970, p. 253.

  3. Chappuis, J. Lubrication by a new principle: The use of nonwetting liquids.Wear 77:303–313, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Chappuis, J. and J.M. Georges. Principe d'un nouveau type de lubrification: La portance des gouttes.C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 278 C:1319–1322, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chappuis, J. and J.M. Georges. Depots de films monomoleculaires sur les surfaces solides.Re. Inst. Fr. Pet. 28:617–625, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clarke, I.C. Human articular surface contours and related surface depression frequency studies.Ann. Rheum. Dis. 30:15–23, 1971.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dawson, D., A. Unsworth, and V. Wright. Analysis of “Booted lubrication” in human joints.J. Mech. Eng. Sci. 12:364–369, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson, R., D. Sawson, and V. Wright. A new approach to the determination of the elastic modulus of articular cartilage.Ann. Rheum. Dis. 34 (Suppl.):116, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Linn, F.C. Lubrication of animal joints.J. Biomech. 1:193–205, 1968.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Little, K., M.A.R. Freeman, and S.A.V. Swanson. Experiments on friction in the human hip joint. InLubrication and Wear in Joints, edited by V. Wright. London: Sector, 1969, p. 110.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Longmore, R.B. and D.L. Gardner. Development with age of human articular cartilage surface structure.Ann. Rheum. Dis. 34:26–37, 1975.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. MacGutchen, C.W. Boundary lubrication by synovial fluid: Demonstration and possible osmotic explanation.Fed. Proc. 25:1061–1068, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Maroudas, A. Studies on the formation of hyaluronic acid films. InLubrication and Wear in Joints edited by V. Wright. London: Sector, 1969, p. 124.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Maroudas, A., P.G. Bullough, S.A.V. Swanson, and M.A.R. Freeman. The permeability of articular cartilage.J. Bone J. Surg. Br. 50:116, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Meachim, G. and R.A. Stockwell. The Matrix. InAdult Articular Cartilage edited by M.A.R. Freeman. Pitman Medical Series. London: Pitmans, 1979, pp. 1–67.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mow, V.C. and W.M. Lai. Recent developments in synovial joint biomechanics.SIAM Review. 22:275–317, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Neumann, A.W., D.R. Absolom, D.W. Francis, and C.J. van Oss. Conversion tables of contact angles to surface tensions.Separ. Purif. Meth. 9:69–163, 1980.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Neumann, A.W., D.R. Absolom, C.J. van Oss, and W. Zingg. Surface thermodynamics of leukocyte and platelet adhesion to polymer surfaces.Cell Biophys. 1:79–92, 1979.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Neumann, A.W., R.J. Good, C.J. Hope, and M. Sejpal. An equation-of-state approach to determine surface tensions of low-energy solids from contact angles.J. Colloid. Interface Sci. 49:291–304, 1974.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Neumann, A.W., O.S. Hum, D.W. Francis, W. Zingg, and C.J. von Oss. Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of platelet adhesion from suspension to various substrates.J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 14:499–509, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. van Oss, C.J. and C.F. Gillman. Phagocytosis as a surface phenomenon. 1. Contact angles and phagocytosis of non-opsonized bacteria.J. Reticuloenodthel. Soc. 12:283–292, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  22. van Oss, C.J., C.F. Gillman and A.W. Neumann, Chapter 2. InPhagocytic Engulfment and Cell Adhesiveness, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1975, pp. 7–19.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Rybicki, E.F., W.A. Glaeser, J.S. Strenkowski, and M.A. Tamm. Effects of cartilage stiffness and viscosity on a nonporous compliant bearing lubrication model for living joints.J. Biomech. 12:403–409, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sherman, I. Interfacial tension effects in microvasculature.Microvasc. Res. 22:296–307, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Spelt, J.K., D.R. Absolom, W. Zingg, C.J. van Oss, and A.W. Neumann. Determination of the surface tension of biological cells using the freezing front technique.Cell Biophys. 4:117, 1982.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Walker, P.S., J. Sikorski, D. Dawson, M.D. Longfield, V. Wright, and T. Buckley. Behavior of synovial fluid on surfaces of articular cartilage. A scanning electron microscope study.Ann. Rheum. Dis. 28:1–14, 1969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ward, C.A. and A.W. Neumann. On the surface thermodynamics of a two-component liquid-vapor-ideal solid system.J. Colloid. Interface Sci. 49:286–290, 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zisman, W.A. Relation of equilibrium contact angle to liquid and solid constitution. InContact Angle, Wettability, and Adhesion, edited by F.M. Fowkes. Washington D.C.: American Chemical Society, Adv. Chem. Ser., 1964, vol. 43, pp. 1–51.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jacques Chappuis

    Present address: Lafarge Coppes Recherché, B.P. 26, 78192, Trappes Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Jacques Chappuis & A. Wilhelm Neumann

  2. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Rd., M5S 1A4, Ontario, Toronto, Canada

    Igor A. Sherman

Authors
  1. Jacques Chappuis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Igor A. Sherman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Wilhelm Neumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chappuis, J., Sherman, I.A. & Neumann, A.W. Surface tension of animal cartilage as it relates to friction in joints. Ann Biomed Eng 11, 435–449 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584218

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02584218

Keywords

Search

Navigation