Soft hydrated sliding interfaces as complex fluids

Hydrogel surfaces are biomimics for sensing and mobility systems in the body such as the eyes and large joints due to their important characteristics of flexibility, permeability, and integrated aqueous component. Recent studies have shown polymer concentration gradients resulting in a less dense region in the top micrometers of the surface. Under shear, this gradient is hypothesized to drive lubrication behavior due to its rheological similarity to a semi-dilute polymer solution. In this work we map 3 lubricating regimes between a polyacrylamide surface and an aluminum annulus using stepped-velocity tribo-rheometry over 5 decades of sliding speed in increasing and decreasing steps. We postulate that the mechanisms of hydrogel-against-hard material lubrication are due to distinct complex fluid behavior characterized by weakly or strongly time-dependent response and thixotropy-like hysteresis. Tribo-rheometry is particularly suited to uncover the lubrication mechanisms of complex interfaces such as are formed with hydrated hydrogel surfaces and biological surfaces.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Kim, Jiho

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dunn, Alison C.

• Hydrogel lubricity
• tribo-rheometry
• complex fluid
• interface

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Jiho Kim

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90665

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/90665