The effect of glycosaminoglycan depletion on the friction and deformation of articular cartilage

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been shown to be responsible for the interstitial fluid pressurization of articular cartilage and hence its compressive stiffness and load-bearing properties. Contradictory evidence has been presented in the literature on the effect of depleting GAGs on the friction properties of articular cartilage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of depleting GAGs on the friction and deformation characteristics of articular cartilage under different tribological conditions. A pin-on-plate machine was utilized to measure the coefficient of friction of native and chondroitinase ABC (CaseABC)-treated articular cartilage under two different models: static (4 mm/s start-up velocity) and dynamic (4 mm/s sliding velocity; 4 mm stroke length) under a load of 25 N (0.4 MPa contact stress) and with phosphate-buffered saline as the lubricant. Indentation tests were carried out at 1 N and 2 N loads (0.14 MPa and 0.28 MPa contact stress levels) to study the deformation characteristics of both native and GAG-depleted cartilage samples. CaseABC treatment rendered the cartilage tissue soft owing to the loss of compressive stiffness and a sulphated-sugar assay confirmed the loss of GAGs from the cartilage samples. CaseABC treatment significantly increased (by more than 50 per cent) the friction levels in the dynamic model (p < 0.05) at higher loading times owing to the loss of biphasic lubrication. CaseABC treatment had no effect on friction in the static model in which the cartilage surfaces did not have an opportunity to recover fluid because of static loading unlike the cartilage tissue in the dynamic model, in which translation of the cartilage surfaces was involved, ensuring effective biphasic lubrication. Therefore the depletion of GAGs had a smaller effect on the coefficient of friction for the static model. Indentation tests showed that GAG-depleted cartilage samples had a lower elastic modulus and higher permeability than native tissue. These results corroborate the role of GAGs in the compressive and friction properties of articular cartilage and emphasize the need for developing strategies to control GAG loss from diseased articular cartilage tissue.     

The Effect of Different Temperatures on Friction and Wear Properties of CFRPEEK against AISI 431 Steel under Water Lubrication

The tribological behavior of 30 vol% carbon fiber–reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFRPEEK) against AISI 431 steel under different temperatures of water lubrication was investigated. Friction and wear tests were carried out on a disc-on-disc contact test apparatus under different operating conditions. The results reveal that the lubricant temperature has a significant effect on the friction and wear properties of CFRPEEK sliding against AISI 431 steel. The average friction coefficient and wear rate of CFRPEEK increase with increasing lubricant temperature. However, the wear rate of AISI 431 steel did not have a positive correlation with the wear rate of CFRPEEK under different temperatures of water lubrication. Moreover, the original and worn surfaces of CFRPEEK and AISI 431 steel were imaged by environmental scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, respectively. The main tribological mechanisms of CFRPEEK sliding against AISI 431 steel were adhesive wear, and increasing the temperature of the lubricant could accelerate wear.     

Microdevice for measuring friction and adhesion properties of sidewall contact interfaces of microelectromechanical systems

A microdevice was specifically designed to characterize the static and dynamic friction and adhesion characteristics of sidewall contact interfaces of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The microdevice was fabricated by surface micromachining and tested under conditions that accurately mimic those of typical MEMS contacts. The developed experimental scheme enables the direct measurement of the critical normal force at the instant of surface separation and the friction force at the onset of sliding. Additional capabilities include evaluation of the dynamic friction behavior, measurement of the electrical characteristics across the contact interface, and characterization of the tribological response under impact contact loading. The microdevice can operate over a wide range of normal forces and different environmental conditions. Because the design is independent of process environment, the microdevice can be used to study the effects of different surface treatments and variations in fabrication process steps on the tribological properties of MEMS contact interfaces. Characteristic results of static and dynamic friction behaviors, electrical contact resistance, and response to dynamic impact loading illustrate the experimental capabilities and versatility of the designed microdevice.     

Boundary Lubrication in Natural Articular Joints

This review concentrates on studies into the behaviour of natural articular cartilage under boundary lubrication. This includes investigations into the chemical composition at the surface of cartilage, carried out as a means of identifying the boundary lubricant. Studies on the friction of cartilage sliding against cartilage and cartilage sliding steel or glass under conditions expected to be in the boundary regime are described. Additionally, model studies on the possible mechanisms of boundary lubrication using well-defined artificial surfaces are also discussed. Although there appears to be some contradiction between the results of friction measurements, an explanation can, at least in part, be given in terms of the layer of cartilage that is being measured. The different chemical nature and lubricating behaviour of the layers found at or near the surface are discussed in relation to the various results given in the literature.     

Temperature–friction characteristics of used lubricant from two-stroke cross-head marine diesel engines

It is now quite apparent that, in a two-stroke, cross-head marine diesel engine, the lubrication regime in the contact between piston ring and cylinder liner at the top dead centre (TDC) is of a boundary type. Therefore, the tribological performance of a system to simulate the real contact should be assessed under conditions closely resembling the operating engine environment. In the reality of engine operation, the lubricant is often contaminated by fuel and products of combustion, hence the need to study the temperature–friction characteristics of this actual lubricant under the conditions of boundary lubrication.In this paper, an oil taken from the drainage system of the engine was used. A five times heating and cooling test methodology was employed to assess tribological performance of a model contact lubricated with the actual oil. The model contact was formed by a pin sliding over a plate both made of materials used in two-stroke, cross-head marine diesel engines.Experiments showed that the general trend in temperature–friction characteristics of the used oil is similar to that of a new oil. However, the level of friction in the contact lubricated with an used oil is significantly higher than that for a new oil.     

A Novel Surface Texture Shape for Directional Friction Control

An experimental study is presented to evaluate the influence of anisotropically shaped textures on the behaviour of sliding friction and sensitivity to sliding direction. The plate samples were textured with triangular sloped dimples using an ultrafast laser surface texturing technique. Reciprocating cylinder-on-plate tests were conducted with steel sliding pairs using mineral base oil as a lubricant to compare the tribological performance of reference non-textured specimen and dimpled samples. The dimples were designed with varying converging angles in the transverse y–z plane and top-view x–y plane. In this study, no dimple was fully covered in the contact area since the dimples size is much larger than the Hertzian line contact width. Stribeck style dynamic friction curves across boundary, mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes were used to determine the benefit or antagonism of texturing. Observation of the directional friction effect of the anisotropic textures indicated that the converging shapes are beneficial for friction reduction, and the dimpled specimens have a lower friction coefficient particular under prevailing boundary lubrication conditions. It was also found that the real contact length variation rate is a major factor controlling the local friction response. The sloped bottoms of the textures produce effective converging wedge action to generate hydrodynamic pressure and contribute to the overall directional friction effects.     

石墨干膜润滑剂在碳钢表面摩擦磨损性能试验研究*

传统油或脂润滑剂在极端工况环境下无法满足碳钢类零件的减摩要求,采用干膜润滑剂是提高极端工况环境下碳钢表面摩擦磨损性能的可行性方法。采用超声波分散方法制备以石墨粉末为基体的干膜润滑剂,使用压力喷涂技术使其沉积在碳钢试件表面,在端面摩擦试验仪中开展干摩擦和石墨干膜润滑剂润滑下摩擦磨损性能对比性试验研究。试验结果表明：石墨干膜润滑剂在碳钢表面的沉积效果较好,沉积的石墨干膜润滑剂具有较好的润滑性能,可以有效地保护碳钢表面不被过度磨损;喷涂石墨干膜润滑剂的碳钢试件的工作寿命随着压力载荷和主轴转速的增大而缩短,负载和滑动速度的联合作用会加速涂层向稳定方向的过渡;磨损过程中形成的微观润滑剂颗粒会形成颗粒流润滑,适当添加石墨颗粒粉末可能会延长润滑剂正常发挥减摩作用的时间。制备的石墨干膜润滑剂为碳钢在极端工况环境下的减摩提供了支持。     

高载荷条件下石墨-石墨摩擦副的摩擦学特性研究

利用研制的高载荷条件下摩擦因数测试装置,研究了石墨/石墨摩擦副在空气、水和油介质中的摩擦学特性。结果表明在4~15MPa范围内,随着载荷的增加,摩擦副在空气、水和油介质中的摩擦因数都逐渐降低;在油介质中摩擦副的摩擦因数最小,在水介质中摩擦因数变化最平稳,在空气中摩擦因数最大,且随载荷的增加变化幅度最大。磨损表面原始形貌对比分析表明,在空气中,摩擦副表面处于边界润滑状态,主要磨损机制是粘着磨损和犁削;水润滑条件下为轻微犁削;油润滑条件下,摩擦副表面处于为边界润滑和流体润滑状态,油中的减摩剂对试样表面有抛光作用。     

The effect of contact stress on cartilage friction, deformation and wear

Following hip hemiarthroplasty, a metal femoral head articulates against natural acetabular cartilage. Cartilage friction and wear may be influenced by variables including loading time, contact stress, contact area, sliding distance, and sliding speed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these variables on cartilage friction, deformation and wear in a simulation using idealized geometry model. Bovine cartilage pins were reciprocated against metal plates to mimic a hemiarthroplasty articulation under static loading. The effective coefficient of friction (micro elf) under contact stresses (0.5 to 16 MPa), contact areas (12 and 64 mm2), stroke lengths (4 and 8 mm), sliding velocities (4 and 8 mm/s), and loading time (1 and 24 hours) were studied. The permanent deformation of cartilage (after 24 hours of recovery) with and without motion was recorded to assess cartilage linear wear. The micro eff was found to remain < 0.35 with contact stresses < or =4 MPa. Severe damage to the cartilage occurred at contact stresses > 8 MPa and significantly increased micro eff after 12 hours of reciprocation. In long-term, contact area had no significant effect on micro eff, and sliding distance and velocity only affected micro eff under low contact stresses. The cartilage linear wear increased with contact stress, sliding distance and velocity.     

Elastohydrodynamics and failure prediction

Many rolling and sliding contacts in industrial machineries are lubricated elastohydrodynamically to mitigate friction and wear. Predictions of tribological failures and performance have been greatly enhanced in the past two decades due to advancements in elastohydrodynamics. In this paper, the major physical features and principles of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) along with the major modes of tribological failures are summarized, first, for these contacts. Brief discussions are given to current predictability of lubricant film thickness, contact pressure, temperature, and friction in elastohydrodynamic contacts, and how these variables are used in predicting contact fatigue life and the threshold conditions for sliding failure.     

Tribological properties of AlCoCrFeNiCu high-entropy alloy in hydrogen peroxide solution and in oil lubricant

Pin-on-disc tests to investigate the tribological behavior of AlCoCrFeNiCu high-entropy alloy under lubrication conditions with 90% hydrogen peroxide solution and lubricant oil, respectively, were performed. The study demonstrates that the AlCoCrFeNiCu high-entropy alloy lubricated correspondingly with lubricant of 90% hydrogen peroxide solution (hereafter termed hydrogen peroxide lubricant) and lubricant oil significantly improves its friction and wear-resistance properties. Results showed that the friction coefficient, after a grinding stage, of the rubbing pair was lower than that with normal lubricant oil. The AlCoCrFeNiCu alloy in the lubricant with 90% hydrogen peroxide solution and lubricant oil exhibits a high resistance to wear. Analysis of the worn surface revealed that the AlCoCrFeNiCu high-entropy alloy lubricated with the hydrogen peroxide lubricant exhibited signs of inhomogeneous polishing oxidation and abrasive wear, with the wear mechanism changing with sliding distance, while the rubbing pair in normal lubricant oil is mainly dominated by abrasive wear.     

Temperature—friction characteristics of cylinder lubrication in large,slow, cross‐head marine diesel engines under boundary lubrication conditions

In large, slow, cross‐head marine diesel engines research has increasingly shown that the lubrication regime between piston rings and cylinder liner at top dead centre is of the boundary lubrication type due to the high gas pressure, low sliding speed, and high temperature. This means that the tribological properties of piston ring, cylinder liner, and cylinder lubricant in these types of engine under boundary lubrication conditions should be considered simultaneously when friction and wear between the piston ring and cylinder liner are studied. Until now there has been no standard method to evaluate boundary lubrication performance. There are a few traditional methods used in lubricant research, but their results are not correlated with service conditions. It is important to find a suitable method to evaluate the boundary lubrication performance of lubricants at the laboratory testing stage or before the engine testing stage. The important parameters, such as sliding speed, normal load, materials of the contacting pairs, and lubricant, need all to be controlled. In this paper a systematic experimental procedure, the ‘five times heating and cooling test’, is introduced to assess lubricant properties under boundary lubrication conditions. Most of the parameters mentioned above are controlled. The model contact, of pin‐on‐plate form, is made from the actual piston and liner materials used in a large‐bore, slow, cross‐head marine diesel engine. The temperature characteristics of different blends of lubricants are investigated under boundary lubrication conditions using a pin‐on‐plate reciprocating test rig. These blends of lubricants have the same additives but different base fluids; they nevertheless fulfil the physical and chemical requirements of a real marine diesel engine. The test temperature range is from room temperature to the working temperature of the top piston ring. The experiments show that there are different temperature—friction characteristics for lubricants with different bases and the same additive package and there are also different temperature—friction characteristics during heating up and cooling down for each blend. Single‐base lubricants have more promising temperature—friction characteristics than those of a blend of a high‐viscosity base and a low‐viscosity base at high temperature.     

The role of the surface amorphous layer of articular cartilage in joint lubrication

Articular cartilage is a complex soft tissue that performs multiple functions in the joint. In particular, the amorphous layer that covers the surface of articular cartilage is thought to play some role in lubrication. This study aimed to characterize the surface amorphous layer (SAL) using a variety of techniques, including environmental scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, white light interferometry, and biochemical analysis of its composition. Friction tests were conducted to investigate the role of the SAL in lubrication. A protocol to remove successfully the SAL without damaging the underlying cartilage was developed and the material removed from healthy cartilage was found to contain approximately equal quantities of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), protein, and lipid. Cartilage-on-cartilage friction tests were conducted on fresh, healthy cartilage with and without the SAL, under both dynamic and static operating conditions. Removal of the SAL was not found to change the friction coefficient. However, subsequent staining of specimens indicated that the SAL had replenished during the test following loading. The replenished SAL was characterized and found to contain lipids and sulphated GAGs with undetectable protein. This study revealed experimental evidence of surface layer replenishment in articular cartilage. It was postulated that the surface layer regeneration mechanism was purely mechanical and associated with movement of GAGs and lipids through the cartilage matrix during deformation, since the experimental set-up did not contain any means of biochemical activation.     

微织构光固化填充h-BN的巴氏合金表面摩擦学性能

为了提高巴氏合金在油润滑条件下的摩擦学性能,在巴氏合金表面加工凹坑微织构并利用光固化填充方法填充六方氮化硼(h-BN)固体润滑剂,制备出h-BN与表面微织构相结合的复合润滑结构。研究复合润滑结构在油润滑条件下的摩擦学性能及其减摩润滑机制。结果表明：复合润滑结构的摩擦学性能远高于未织构面和纯织构面;当凹坑微织构直径较小时,织构密度为10%～20%时,复合润滑结构摩擦因数较小,而凹坑直径较大时,随着织构密度的增加,复合润滑结构摩擦因数逐渐减小;当织构密度小于20%时,凹坑直径较小的复合润滑结构摩擦因数小,当织构密度达到30%时,随着凹坑直径的增加,复合润滑结构摩擦因数减小。复合润滑结构能够改善巴氏合金表面摩擦学性能,是因为h-BN固体润滑剂的释放在巴氏合金表面形成了固体润滑薄膜,避免了润滑油膜较薄处的巴氏合金表面直接与45钢表面接触,且释放h-BN固体润滑剂后的微织构凹坑可以起到收集磨粒,储存润滑油的作用。     

Grooved surface texturing by electrical discharge machining (EDM) under different lubrication regimes

The aim of the present research work was to investigate the effectiveness of grooved surface texturing with a rhombic geometry under different lubrication regimes. Tribological investigation under unidirectional sliding was focused on the effect of texturing parameters including pattern area density on the coefficient of friction under different lubrication regimes, achieved by varying sliding speed and lubricant viscosity. Grooved patterns with different textured area densities were produced on steel samples by electrical discharge machining. Results of this investigation showed that under boundary lubrication, textures resist sliding thus resulting in increased friction. The largest improvement of friction reduction was observed under hydrodynamic lubrication, for low‐viscosity oil when using the textured disc with 21% pattern area density. The reduction of the coefficient of friction if compared with the untextured surface was of approximately 24%. Examination of the sliding surfaces has not shown any quantifiable wear for the contact conditions studied.     

Review of engineered tribological interfaces for improved boundary lubrication

Recent advances in smart surface engineering and coating technologies offer unique possibilities for better controlling friction and wear under boundary or marginally lubricated rolling, sliding or rotating contact conditions. Specifically, such coatings can be tailored to meet the increasingly multi-functional application needs of future engine systems by enabling them to operate in lower viscosity oils with reduced sulfur and phosphorous. Using these technologies, researchers have already pioneered the development of a variety of nano-composite and super-hard coatings providing longer tool life in demanding machining and manufacturing applications. The same technologies can also be used in the design and development of novel coating architectures providing lower friction and wear under boundary-lubricated sliding conditions. For example, such coatings can be tailored in a very special way that while one of the phases can favorably react with certain additives in engine oils to result in an ideal chemical boundary film; the other phases can provide super-hardness and hence resists wear and scuffing. Because of their very dense microstructure and high chemical inertness, these coatings can also provide superior protection against oxidation and corrosive attacks in aggressive environments. The use of solid lubricant coatings may also improve the tribological properties of sliding contact interfaces under boundary lubricated sliding conditions. When fluid and boundary films fails or is broken down, such coatings can carry the load and act as a back-up lubricant. Other smart surface technologies such as laser texturing and/or dimpling, laser-glazing and -shotpeening have also become very popular in recent years. In particular, laser texturing of control or coated surfaces have opened up new possibilities for further manipulation of the lubrication regimes in classical Stribeck diagrams. Controlling dimple size, shape, orientation, and density, researchers were able to modify both the width and the height of the boundary lubrication regimes and thus achieve lower friction and wear at sliding and rotating contact interfaces. Overall, smart surface engineering and coating technologies have matured over the years and they now become an integral part of advanced machining and manufacturing applications. They can also be used to meet the increasingly stringent and multi-functional application needs of demanding tribological applications. In this paper, selected examples of recently developed novel surface engineering and coating technologies are introduced, and the fundamental tribological mechanisms that control their friction and wear behavior under boundary lubrication regimes are presented.     

Effect of MWCNTs-COOH Reinforcement on Tribological Behaviors of PI/MWCNTs-COOH Nanocomposites Under Seawater Lubrication

The carboxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-COOH) was achieved by grafting carboxyl (COOH) groups onto surfaces of MWCNTs. Then polyimide (PI)-based nanocomposites reinforced with MWCNTs-COOH and MWCNTs were prepared by in situ polymerization and the tribological behaviors of PI/MWCNTs-COOH and PI/MWCNT nanocomposites were studied under dry friction and seawater lubrication. The results showed that the incorporation of MWCNTs-COOH and MWCNTs could greatly improve the wear resistance of PI because of the lubricating effect of MWCNTs-COOH and MWCNTs. In additon, the PI/MWCNTs-COOH exhibited better tribological performance than the PI/MWCNTs under dry friction due to functionalization of MWCNTs. In addition, PI/MWCNTs-COOH nanocomposites presented better tribological properties under seawater lubrication than other conditions because of the excellent lubricating effect of seawater, especially when the content of MWCNTs-COOH was 0.7 wt%. Furthermore, the effects of applied load and sliding speed on the tribological behaviors of PI/MWCNTs-COOH nanocomposites were studied under seawater lubrication. It was found that 0.7 wt% PI/MWCNTs-COOH nanocomposites had the best friction reduction and antiwear properties when the applied load and sliding speed were 3 N and 0.26 m/s, respectively, under seawater lubrication.     

Effects of Sliding Velocity and Normal Load on Tribological Characteristics in Powder Lubrication

The antifriction ability of powder lubrication and the state of powder layer are strongly related to the service conditions. Therefore, the effects of sliding velocity and normal load under powder lubrication were studied using a face-to-face contact tribometer. In our work, some graphite, a widely used solid lubricant, was introduced into the frictional interface in the state of free powder. Varying friction coefficient and temperature rise were recorded online. The powder layer formed on the frictional surface of the bottom samples was observed by an optical microscope after tests. The comparative research demonstrated the tribological characteristics of powder lubrication are similar to that of polytetrafluoroethylene coating. Besides, the powder lubrication provides longer lubrication life, although the powder was difficult to seal and control during the tests. Within the proper range of sliding velocities and normal loads, the powder layer dynamically formed on the contact surface of the bottom samples, which resulted in the self-replenishing and oil-free lubrication. The powder layer inclined to deteriorate under lower velocity and higher load. The tests with higher velocity exhibited lower friction coefficient and higher temperature rise. The tests with lower load exhibited higher friction coefficient and lower temperature rise. The state of powder layer included typically four stages such as the full layer, the partial detachment, the serious detachment, and the complete destruction. The damage degree of powder layer is not in proportion to the friction coefficient or the temperature rise due to the particularity of powder lubrication.     

Macrotribological Studies of Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lysine)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">graft</Emphasis>-Poly(ethylene glycol) in Aqueous Glycerol Mixtures

We have investigated the tribological properties of surfaces with adsorbed poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) sliding in aqueous glycerol solutions under different lubrication regimes. Glycerol is a polar, biocompatible liquid with a significantly higher viscosity than that of water. Macrotribological performance was investigated by means of pin-on-disk and mini-traction-machine measurements in glycerol-PLL-g-PEG-aqueous buffer mixtures of varying compositions. Adsorption studies of PLL-g-PEG from these mixtures were conducted with the quartz-crystal-microbalance technique. The enhanced viscosity of the glycerol-containing lubricant reduces the coefficient of friction due to increased hydrodynamic forces, leading to a more effective separation of the sliding partners, while the presence of hydrated polymer brushes at the interface leads to an entropically driven repulsion, which also helps mitigate direct asperity–asperity contact between the solid surfaces under boundary-lubrication conditions. The combination of polymer layers on surfaces with aqueous phases of enhanced viscosity thus enables the friction to be reduced by several orders of magnitude, compared to the behavior of pure water, over a large range of sliding speeds. The individual contributions of the polymer and the aqueous glycerol solutions in reducing the friction have been studied across different lubrication regimes.     

The influence of continuous sliding and subsequent surface wear on the friction of articular cartilage.

Reciprocating motion friction tests were conducted upon cartilage-on-metal contacts while subjected to a constant load. Initial friction coefficients were compared with repeat friction coefficients following a sufficient load removal period. The repeat friction coefficients were marginally higher than the initial values and both were primarily dependent on the loading time. It was concluded that while a wear component had been identified, which modestly increased friction coefficients, the overriding parameter influencing friction was loading time. The authors postulate that fluid phase load carriage (being dependent on loading time) within the articular cartilage is largely responsible for low friction coefficients in the mixed and boundary lubrication regimes. This mechanism has been referred to as biphasic lubrication. Both synovial fluid and Ringer's solution were used as lubricants. Over the assessed 120 min loading time friction coefficients rose from 0.005 (for both lubricants) after 5 s to 0.50 and 0.57 for synovial fluid and Ringer's solution respectively. Synovial fluid was found to significantly reduce friction coefficients compared to Ringer's solution over broad ranges of the assessed loading times (p < 0.05). Stylus and non-contacting laser profilometry were successfully employed to provide reliable, quantitative and accurate measures of surface roughness. Laser profilometry before and after a continuous sliding friction test revealed a significant increase in surface roughness from Ra = 0.8 (+/- 0.2) micron to Ra = 2.1 (+/- 0.2) microns, (p < 0.0005); confirming that surface wear was occurring. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the typical highly orientated collagen fibres of the superficial tangential zone. Environmental SEM (ESEM) of fully hydrated cartilage specimens provided largely featureless images of the surface which suggested that sample preparation for conventional SEM was detrimental to the authenticity of the cartilage surface appearance using SEM. Two distinct acellular, non-collagenous surface layers were identified using ESEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); respectively referred to as the boundary layer and surface lamina. The phospholipid/glycoprotein based boundary layer will provide boundary lubrication during intimate contact of opposing cartilage surfaces. The surface lamina, being a continuum of the proteoglycan interfibrillar matrix, is present to prevent fibrillation of the underlying collagen fibres. Both layers may contribute to the time dependent frictional response of articular cartilage. Although laser profilometry did reveal surface wear which was consistent with a small increase in friction, the primary variable controlling the friction coefficient was the period of loading.