3-Dimensional ink printing of friction-reducing surface textures from copper nanoparticles

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology 2019-04, Vol.364, p.57-62
• Main Authors: Wang, Maolu, Wang, Xinjian, Liu, Junyan, Wei, Jiacheng, Shen, Zhangwen, Wang, Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Convex friction-reducing texture; Copper; Friction; Friction reduction; Laser beam melting; Lubrication; Nanoparticles; Production methods; Rapid prototyping; Selective laser melting; Texturing; Three dimensional printing; Tribology
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2019.02.080

Surface texturing is an effective way for friction-reduction in hydrodynamic lubricating conditions. In this paper, an additive manufacturing method of selective laser melting of ink-printed copper nanoparticles (SLM-IP Cu NPs) was introduced. Concave squared textures, convex squared textures and fully sintered Cu film were fabricated. The tribological performances of the fabricated samples showed that the convex squared texture possesses a better friction-reducing ability than the concave textures and the full Cu film. Moreover, the relationship between the dimensional parameters of the convex textures and the friction-reducing ability was also experimentally studied. The lubricating condition was analyzed to show that the surface structures fabricated by SLM-IP Cu NPs can provide the surface with a friction-reducing ability in mixed lubrication. •Convex friction-reducing textures were fabricated by a 3-dimensional ink printing of SLM-IP Cu NPs.•The convex texture shows a better friction-reducing ability.•The dimensional characteristics of convex texture directly affect the friction-reduction performances.•The friction reduction of convex texture can be attributed to mixed lubrication under high load or low speed.