Effect of Load on Tribological Behaviour of 3D Printed Composite

Understanding the tribological behaviours of parts printed through Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is crucial for optimizing the application of FDM-printed components. A new composite, PLA-F which blended PLA and ABS was developed in the last decade. However, no tribological data for this new composite was reported. The effect of load on the tribological behaviour of 3D printed PLA-F was investigated in current work via pin-on-disc test. The coefficient of friction, wear rate, and specific wear rate at applied loads ranged from 2.5 N to 20 N were determined. With the increase of applied load, it was seen that coefficient of friction (COF) reduced from 0.79 and remained constant at 0.6 after 15 N, wear rate increased from 1.02×10−6 g/m to 7.51×10−6 g/m and specific wear rate ranged between 3.32×10−7 g/Nm to 4.10×10−7 g/Nm. Worn surfaces of the samples were observed using a digital microscope. Various wear mechanisms such as delamination, grooves, ploughing, and fatigue wear were observed, and severe wear was observed at high applied load. This insight holds significance for optimizing its utilization and minimizing wear-related issues in practical applications.