Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Influence of the 3D Printing Infill and Printing Direction on Friction and Wear of Polylactic Acid (PLA) under Rotational Sliding

  • Published:
Journal of Friction and Wear Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We used Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for 3D printing of Polylactic acid (PLA) samples, with variation of the printing infill (20% and 100%). Tribological testing was performed on a nanotribometer, under low loads (5, 10, and 15 mN), with a rotating module (ball-on-flat). We studied the friction and wear of PLA samples in two different positions: along the printing direction and normal to the printed direction. The tribological contacts along the printing direction had lower friction coefficient than the contacts that were normal to the printing direction. Samples with 20% infill produced a significantly higher friction coefficient than those with 100% infill. A higher wear factor was exhibited for a dense structure (100% infill) than for a porous material (20% infill). The load increase showed a slight transitional behavior for all types of contacts. The wear factor was on the order of 10–3 mm3/(N m) for all tests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Narayanan, G., Vernekar, V.N., Kuyinu, E.L., and Laurencin, C.T., Poly (lactic acid)-based biomaterials for orthopaedic regenerative engineering, Adv. Drug Delivery Rev., 2016, vol. 107, pp. 247–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Tappa, K., Jammalamadaka, U., Weisman, J.A., Ballard, D.H., Wolford, D.D., Pascual-Garrido, C., Wolford, L.M., Woodard, P.K., and Mill, D.K., 3D printing custom bioactive and absorbable surgical screws, pins, and bone plates for localized drug delivery, J. Funct. Biomater., 2019, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb10020017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Upex, P., Jouffroy, P., and Riouallon, G., Application of 3D printing for treating fractures of both columns of the acetabulum: benefit of pre-contouring plates on the mirrored healthy pelvis, Orthop. Traumatol. Surg. Res., 2017, vol. 103, no. 3, pp. 331–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Eutionnat-Diffo, P.A., Chen, Y., Guan, J., Cayla, A., Campagne, C., Zeng, X., and Nierstrasz, V., Stress, strain and deformation of poly-lactic acid filament deposited onto polyethylene terephthalate woven fabric through 3D printing process, Sci. Rep., 2019, vol. 9, art. ID 14333. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50832-7

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hanon, M.M., Kovács, M., and Zsidai, L., Tribology behaviour investigation of 3D printed polymers, Int. Rev. Appl. Sci. Eng., 2019, vol. 10, no. 2, art. ID 173181.

  6. Zhang, P., Hu, Z., Xie, H., et al., Friction and wear characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) for 3D printing under reciprocating sliding condition, Ind. Lubr. Tribol., 2020, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 533–539. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-11-2016-0280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Briscoe, B.J. and Sinha, S.K., Wear of polymers, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part J, 2002, vol. 216, no. 6, pp. 401–413.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Prozhega, M.V., Reschikov, E.O., Shirshov, A.D., and Yakovenko, N.G., Frictional properties of 3D printing polymers in vacuum, J. Frict. Wear, 2020, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 565–570. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366620060173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Panda, S., Sarangi, M., and Chowdhury, S.K.R., An analytical model of mechanistic wear of polymers, J. Tribol., 2018, vol. 140, no. 1, art. ID 011609. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037136

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Sestre Janjic 6, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia

    F. Zivic, S. Mitrovic, N. Grujovic, Z. Jovanovic, D. Dzunic & S. Milenkovic

Authors
  1. F. Zivic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Mitrovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Grujovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Z. Jovanovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. Dzunic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Milenkovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Zivic.

Additional information

Translated by A. Muravev

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zivic, F., Mitrovic, S., Grujovic, N. et al. The Influence of the 3D Printing Infill and Printing Direction on Friction and Wear of Polylactic Acid (PLA) under Rotational Sliding. J. Frict. Wear 42, 106–111 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366621020124

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366621020124

Keywords:

Search

Navigation