Impact and Tribological Characteristics of In-Situ 3D-Printed Glass Fibre-Reinforced PLA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12974/2311-8717.2026.14.07Keywords:
Fibre reinforced polymer composite, Additive manufacturing, Mechanical properties, Friction and wearAbstract
The increasing demand for high-performance materials has led to research aimed at improving the mechanical and tribological properties of 3D-printed polymers. In-Situ reinforcement, where short fibres are placed between layers during printing, offers potential solutions to issues like interlayer adhesion and voids. This study explores the impact and tribological performance of glass fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (GF-PLA) composites. In the current work, glass fibre (GF) was added in situ between polylactic acid (PLA) layers during printing, whereas most previous studies used a pre-made GF-PLA composite filament. Impact strength peaked at 8.275 kJ/m² with 2.39 wt% GF but dropped with higher fibre content due to poor inter-layer adhesion. Tribological results showed a rise in the coefficient of friction (COF) with up to 2.39 wt% GF, but decreased at 4.98 wt% as the GF-PLA transfer film reduced friction. Wear tests revealed a 52% reduction in wear rate at 2.39 wt%, though wear decreased by only 24% at 4.98 wt% due to delamination. Frictional heat caused PLA softening, while harder GF led to abrasive wear, deepening wear scars at the higher fibre content.
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