Integration of carbon nanotubes in additively manufactured polylactic acid to develop creep and wear resistant nanocomposites

Abstract

This study experimentally investigates the mechanical, viscoelastic, and tribological behavior of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM). CNT-reinforced PLA filaments were used to produce test specimens, and the influence of CNT addition on tensile, creep, loading–unloading, and wear behavior was systematically evaluated. Tensile tests were conducted to determine the elastic–plastic deformation characteristics, while loading–unloading and creep experiments were employed to characterize the time-dependent viscoelastic and viscoplastic response of the nanocomposites. Tribological performance was assessed using pin-on-disk wear tests under different operating temperatures. The results demonstrate that CNT reinforcement significantly enhances the mechanical strength of PLA, reduces creep deformation, and increased the recovered strain energy while generally reducing the dissipated energy, indicating a more recoverable mechanical response. Furthermore, CNT addition leads to a noticeable reduction in wear rate and generally lowers the coefficient of friction, particularly at elevated temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), combined with ImageJ-based 2D image analysis, was used to examine the interfilament void morphology and quantify the mean pore area and 2D pore area fraction of the printed specimens. The findings highlight the potential of CNT-reinforced PLA nanocomposites for tribological and structural applications in additively manufactured polymer components.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 2026 · DOI ↗