Effect of infill orientation on the wear behaviour of 3D printed polyetheretherketone

High-temperature additive manufacturing permits printing advanced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) sliding bearings with different surface features needed for better heat dissipation or lubrication of bearings. The as-printed surfaces of fused filament fabrication parts are different compared to the molded or extruded surfaces and will influence the performance. The layer orientation with respect to the sliding direction is a key parameter that decides be bearing performance and is investigated using representative pin samples. The accommodation of debris on soft polymer sliding against hard steel during the initial period of sliding influences the friction and wear characteristics and contact temperature rise. The heat buildup in polymers that limits the operating load and speed in the initial period is influenced by the airflow between the layers which depends on the sliding direction. The current observations will assist in choosing the printing direction for sliding contact conditions.