Enhancement of Wear Resistance in 3D-Printed PLA and CF-PLA/Epoxy Composites via Taguchi Design and ANOVA

Due to the increasing importance of engineering plastics in diverse engineering fields, demand for these materials has grown alongside technological progress, driving the development of tailored properties for specific applications. This study evaluates the wear behavior of three polymer groups manufactured using additive manufacturing (Material Extrusion, MEX): polylactic acid and carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid, both fabricated by the deposition technique and reinforcement with epoxy resin. High-precision three-dimensional models were fabricated for each composite polymer to improve accuracy and performance. Samples were prepared as hollow cylinders with deposition thicknesses defined by diameter reduction ratios (wt.%) of 10%, 20%, and 40%, aiming to investigate the effect of epoxy reinforcement on wear behavior.Both wt.% and applied load during testing were considered as key factors influencing composite performance. Wear properties were assessed using a pin-on-disc device, following a systematic approach to examine the relationship between these parameters and the tribological behavior of the materials. Data analysis was conducted with MINITAB 19, employing the Taguchi method for experimental design and evaluation. Results demonstrated that the adopted design methodology enhanced adhesive wear resistance in all composites. Furthermore, the wt.% had a greater influence on wear performance than the applied load within the scope of this study.