Influence of elastic 3D printed polymers on the mechanical properties and tribology of textile fabrics

Combining textile fabrics with 3D printing has been investigated intensively during the last years. Mostly, research concentrated on the adhesion between both partners of the composite or on the new freedom of design, enabled by combining these techniques. Here, we present examinations of the influence of elastic 3D printed patterns on the elongation and wearing out of elastic textile fabrics as well as on the tribological properties of the textile surface, comparing pure and imprinted textile fabrics. Therefore, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was 3D printed in different patterns on diverse textile fabrics. Our study shows that for a sufficient adhesion, reached by small enough nozzle-fabric distance, elastic 3D printed patterns can indeed improve the surface resistance against wear.