Friction and wear of textured surfaces produced by 3D printing

Surface texture patterns have great potential for improving tribological performance in terms of reducing friction and wear. The most common methods for surface texturing are laser and injection molding. The 3D printing method is also used to build parts, patterns, and molds that feature fine details for a wide range of applications because texture manufacturing by 3D printing is faster, more flexible, and less expensive than traditional techniques. To date, there has been no research on textured surfaces produced by 3D printing. Therefore, a new fabrication method using 3D printing to improve friction and wear properties is a topic worth exploring. In this study, a reciprocating friction tester was used to evaluate the friction and wear properties of different surface textures produced by 3D printing. The surface of specimens was examined by electron microscope and scanning electron microscope before and after the test. The results show that surface texturing can be applied to 3D printed parts to improve their friction and wear performance.