Excellent lubrication properties of 3D printed ceramic bionic structures

Three-dimensional (3D) printed ceramic structures loaded with lubricating materials could exhibit excellent lubrication effect. In this paper, various bionic petal structures and tree frog toe end structure of 3D-printed alumina (Al₂O₃) ceramic are designed to study the effects of lubricating structures and tungsten disulfide (WS₂) solid lubricant on the friction performance. Compared to the friction properties of various bionic lubricating structures loaded with WS₂, the bionic small petal structure with hexagonal arrangement exhibits a lowest friction coefficient of 0.411 and moderate wear resistance due to more storage of lubricant and debris. The maximum friction coefficient of 1.177 and optimum anti-wear ability are offered by the bionic tree frog toe end structure. In particular, the friction coefficient of the bionic petal lubricating structures loaded with WS₂ are lower than that of blank printed Al₂O₃ ceramic, indicating that the lubricating structures provide positive effect on improving friction performance. Therefore, the 3D printed ceramic lubricating structures provided a novel strategy for achieving lubrication in advanced applications.