Effect of Print Orientation on the Tribological Behavior of a Steel Powder-Modified Thermoplastic

This article presents the results of research on a composite filament made of a thermoplastic polymer with the addition of steel powder, used to produce samples using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology. Samples were printed with different print orientations (0° and 90°) to assess the effect of print direction on mechanical and tribological properties. Sample hardness was tested using the Shore D method. Wettability was determined by measuring the contact angle using an optical tensiometer. Tribological wear tests were conducted using the ball-on-disk method. During the tests, the friction coefficient was recorded, and the wear traces were analyzed using an optical microscope. Friction-wear tests were conducted under dry friction conditions and with a physiological saline solution. The obtained results allowed for determining the relationship between print orientation and the mechanical properties and wear resistance of the analyzed composite material.