Experimental Study of Wear Behavior Under Friction for Fused Filament Fabrication Components.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Tribology
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Additively manufactured polymers, like polylactic acid (PLA), are increasingly used in wet systems.
• Understanding the wear mechanisms of these materials in aqueous environments is crucial but remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the wear behavior of 3D-printed PLA components under simulated low-speed, moderately loaded aqueous conditions.
• To elucidate the wear mechanisms of PLA in water-lubricated tribological applications.

Main Methods:

• Gravimetric wear testing of 3D-printed PLA (PolyTerra™) parallelepiped and ring specimens using a Baroid lubricity tester.
• Analysis of mass loss, material transfer, and changes in the aqueous medium's electrical conductivity and pH.
• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze wear residue composition.

Main Results:

• Both PLA geometries exhibited similar mass losses initially, but the parallelepiped specimen showed accelerated wear later.
• The ring specimen gained mass in the final stage due to material transfer.
• Significant increases in medium conductivity and pH were observed, with FTIR confirming PLA structures in the residue, indicating mechanical wear.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed PLA components demonstrate distinct wear behaviors in aqueous environments, influenced by geometry and material transfer.
• Mechanical wear is the dominant process, supported by residue analysis and changes in the surrounding medium.
• This research enhances the understanding of PLA tribology in water, aiding the design of components for such applications.