Influence of Carbon Nano Fibers Addition on Mechanical and Tribological Properties of 3D Printed Polymer Composites

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has significantly transformed the landscape of modern fabrication and product development, offering unprecedented opportunities in the creation of complex geometries, rapid prototyping, and decentralized production. Among the various additive manufacturing techniques, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) stands out due to its cost- effectiveness, material versatility, and widespread applicability in fields ranging from aerospace to biomedical engineering. However, despite its many advantages, FDM- fabricated components are often limited by poor mechanical strength, inadequate thermal stability, and inferior tribological properties when compared to conventionally manufactured parts. These limitations stem from factors such as weak interlayer bonding, inherent porosity, and anisotropic structural behavior, which restrict the broader adoption of FDM parts in load-bearing or high-performance applications. newline