Comprehending the role of process parameters and filament color on the structure and tribological performance of 3D printed PLA

Abstract

The recent growth of 3D printing has prompted researchers to investigate the reliability of its products in numerous implementations. However, 3D printed object tribology has not been extensively reviewed so far. The present study is the first to explore how the tribological qualities of 3D printed PLA polymer are affected by the existence of different colors. To this end, fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology is used to produce tribological testing specimens. The impact of print orientation and the color is assessed by producing the samples in different directions (Horizontal, 45° angle, and Vertical) and filament colors (white, black, and grey), while the performance of tribological tests is undertaken in reciprocating sliding at two various applied loads (150 and 200 N). Attention is also paid to surface roughness and product hardness because they are important aspects for understanding the tribological behavior. Furthermore, to improve insight into the pre- and post-test surface morphology of parts produced through 3D printing, microscopy is used for capture of multiple images. According to the results, tribological behavior differs due to the diversity of print orientations and filament colors. Of the examined parameters, the white filament color is associated with maximum friction tendency, while maximum wear depth is associated with test pieces of 45° angle orientation and black filament color. Moreover, the sliding under high loads reduces wear, but the stick-slip phenomenon is more likely to occur at low load. The results indicate the demand for tribological testing to grasp the 3D printed polymer material behavior fully.