Study on the effect of carbon-fiber-reinforced composites on tribological properties

Polymer additive manufacturing (AM) has made significant progress in recent decades, but material properties, production speed, and part size constraints have limited it. As a result, it has mainly been used for rapid prototyping instead of the full-scale production of end-use components. Carbon fiber, however, offers several advantages, including low density, coefficient of thermal expansion, and high thermal conductivity. It can elevate polymer-based AM from simply achieving form and fit to achieving fit and function. Integrating carbon fiber into AM processes can lead to improved material characteristics, reduced production time compared to traditional subtractive methods, and decreased warping issues. This, in turn, allows for creating larger and more complex components. As a result, incorporating carbon fiber into various AM technologies has garnered increasing attention and interest within both academic and industrial circles. In the present chapter, a brief discussion on the effect of carbon fiber reinforcement on tribological properties of the additive manufactured CFRP composites is carried out.