TRIBOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF POLYMERS AND THEIR COMPOSITES USED IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING - A REVIEW

Abstract

In the recent time different polymers as well as polymer composites are becoming the major in contender over the conventional engineering materials owing to the enhanced utility and cost advantages. Further, with the advent of different additive manufacturing techniques the uses of such polymers are also gaining priority. It is also needless to mention that tribo pairs are dominant part in all the major fields of applications. The tribology of polymer at large is very complex and there is hardly any governing mechanism. Hence, case based individual studies on tribology are an essential minimum requirement for each and every type of polymeric materials.  A tribological study, that is, understanding friction and wear characteristics under relative movements have also been made for various virgin polymers. However, more studies and related data are steel needed particularly for newly developed composites. This paper intends to review, in brief, the research trends on tribological characterization including mainly the coefficient of friction and wear in tribo pairs made up of polymers and polymer composites. Sample preparation through additive manufacturing technologies, more generally by 3D printing process, have been considered. Effect of micro and nano fillers on the composites have also been discussed and compared with the tribology over their virgin counterparts. Some laboratory based results on tribological characterizations of 3D printed parts using conventional polymers have also been discussed