Influence of artificial saliva compositions on tribological characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V implant alloy

The present paper describes the results of tests on the influence of human saliva and its substitutes on tribological characteristics of implant materials on the example of the Ti-6Al-4V (a-Ti) titanium alloy. The saliva substitutes were prepared on the basis of pyrophosphates and mucins dissolved in saline buffer. The results of the presented tribological tests show that the values of the parameters under research varied from each other, while much similarity was observed between the evaluated level of wear characteristics after the friction process in the human saliva environment and that in the environment of one of the mucins tested. The microscopic observations of surfaces of the a-Ti samples after friction revealed varied forms of tribological wear. Infrared microspectroscopy studies of surfaces of the a-Ti samples after friction revealed the presence of secondary lubricating films based on mucin found in the artificial saliva solutions.