Tribological characteristics of copper powder-reinforced PLA composites fabricated via fused deposition modelling

This study investigates the tribological properties of PLA composites reinforced with copper powder. The composites were made using fused deposition modelling (FDM) technique. The goal is to determine how the addition of metal reinforcement affects the performance of the material for engineering applications. The study employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) to analyse the microstructure and elemental composition. It confirmed the thorough blending of PLA and copper powder using twin screw extrusion. By preparing for it, the specimens were 3D printed for the purpose of conducting tensile and wear testing. The significance of the data was evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings suggest that the addition of copper powder reinforcement results in the production of composite filaments that are more evenly developed. Significantly, there was a noticeable increase in the mechanical and tribological characteristics when the copper powder percentage was raised to 20%. This study not only provides insight into the manufacturing process of metal-filled polymer composites but also demonstrates the potential of copper powder as a valuable material for enhancing the properties of PLA composites.