Effect of proteins on the surface microstructure evolution of a CoCrMo alloy in bio-tribocorrosion processes

Under tribological contact, the subsurface microstructure of CoCrMo alloys for artificial joint implants can be changed and affect the life and safety of such devices. As one of the most important and abundant components in the synovial fluid, proteins play a key role in affecting the bio-tribocorrosion behaviors of metal implants. The effect of proteins on the subsurface microstructure evolution of a CoCrMo alloy was investigated using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) in this study. The result shows that proteins have two main effects on the subsurface's evolution: forming a multilayered structure and causing severer subsurface deformation. The tribo-film can protect the passive film from scrapping, and then the passive film can reduce or even suppress the stacking fault annihilation by blocking the access to the metal surface. It leads to the stacking fault being diffused towards the deeper area and a strain accumulation in the subsurface, before inducing a severer deformation. On the other hand, the effect of proteins results in the location changing from the top surface to be underneath the top surface, where the maximum frictional shear stress occurs. This can cause a deeper deformation.