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Polymers as Ophthalmic Lubricating Agents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

S. Kalachandra and
D. O. Shah
S. Kalachandra
Affiliation:
Operative Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
D. O. Shah
Affiliation:
Center for Surface Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering Building, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Abstract

Physio-chemical properties such as coefficients of friction between low energy surfaces (PMMA/PMMA), surface tension, contact angle and viscosity of various water soluble polymer solutions ( 3–62cp) were measured at ambient temperature. The results showed that the surface tension and the contact angle are independent of viscosity of each polymer. The analysis of the data revealed that the system is operating in a region of “Boundary Lubrication”. It is seen, beyond 30 cp viscosity of almost all polymer solutions, the coefficient friction has been found to be independent of viscosity.

Polyvinyl alcohol appears to have better lubricity in the vicinity of 30 cp viscosity or lower values than the cellulose derivatives and dextran. Hydrophobic interaction between PMMA surface and vinyl backbone may be responsible for this observation.

It appears that the coefficient of friction of these polymer solutions depends on the structure, conformation and adsorption characteristics of polymers as well as surface characteristics of sliding surfaces, load, speed and viscosity.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 110: Symposium M – Biomedical Materials and Devices , 1987, 463
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1988

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