Chemists, materials scientists, and other researchers describe how water-based lubricants work in nature, and how those methods can be adopted to replace oil-based lubricants in some applications in order to reduce environmental impact, improve heat transfer, and allow ultra-low friction. They cover the tribology of natural articular joints, sticky and slippery: interfacial forces of mucin and mucus gels, aqueous lubrication and food emulsions, aqueous lubrication in cosmetics, hydrogel friction and lubrication, aqueous lubrication with polymer brushes, the water-like lubrication of hard contacts by polyhydric alcohols, and the aqueous lubrication of ceramics. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Man lubricates mostly with oil. Nature lubricates exclusively with water. Pure water is a poor lubricant, but the addition of proteins, especially glycoproteins, can modify surfaces to make them far more lubricating at slow speeds. Understanding how nature does this, and the physical structures involved, is not only important for the understanding of diseases such as osteoarthritis, but also essential for the successful application of articulating implants, such as hips and knees, as well as the development of medical devices such as catheters and contact lenses. A host of important applications of water-based lubrication are already in place in the personal care and food industries, and further industrial applications of water-based lubrication could have a significant positive impact on the environment.
This book is the first of its kind. It brings together the latest research in biological and biomimetic, water-based lubrication and is authored by the world's experts in the field.
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