Investigating Tribological Behaviour of Multiple Layer Copper Coating on 3D-Printed Biodegradable PLA Composite

Abstract

The study explores the tribological behavior of multi-layer copper coatings on 3D-printed plastics through an electroplating technique. Copper, known for its exceptional properties in electrical sliding contacts, was electroplated onto polylactic acid (PLA) composites. We evaluated the wear performance of these copper-coated PLA composites under dry sliding conditions using a pin-on-disc wear test. The tests were conducted with a 25N applied force and a sliding velocity of 300 mm/s. The specific wear rates and coefficients of friction for the PLA-Cu polymer composites were analyzed to assess their tribological characteristics.