The present research investigates the effects of re-entrant auxetic structure’s on friction-induced vibrational behaviour of three-dimensional (3D) printed polylactic acid (PLA) samples. A series of re-entrant auxetic specimens with different re-entrant angles were prepared for sliding wear tests. The results showed that with the increase in re-entrant angles, the negative Poisson ratio becomes greater. Accordingly, the specimen showed less vibration during the sliding wear process, with a lower average friction coefficient. As a result, the wear resistance of the specimens with embedded re-entrant structures was clearly improved. Microscopic images revealed that surface fatigue wear was effectively prevented with the re-entrant structures, thanks to their energy absorption and vibration insulation capacities. The findings demonstrated that 3D printing technology could provide a new route for the design and fabrication of high wear resistant engineering components by creating complex functional structures to control and optimize their dynamic behaviour and, thus tribological performance.

Frictional contact between biological tissues is of critical importance in biomechanics and clinical treatment strategies, which is particularly relevant to diarthrodial joints, where articular cartilage surfaces undergo reciprocal contact loading for thousands of cycles per day. Taking the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as an example, mandibular resection and reconstruction significantly alter the masticatory system and impact its biomechanical conditions. Clinical evidence indicates that pain is more frequent in the contralateral TMJ after this kind of surgery. However, there has been limited analysis of TMJ biomechanics following reconstructive surgery to date. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the effects of masticatory muscle loss on stress distribution in the TMJs, determine an optimum loading region to mitigate excessive stress in the contralateral TMJ, and explore how the frictional change influences the biomechanics of the TMJ. The results demonstrate that the loss of masticatory muscles on the ipsilateral side due to resection can increase contact pressure in the contralateral TMJ and that incisor and ipsilateral dental implant occlusal loading generates the most desired stress patterns in the contralateral TMJ. This study reveals that the excessive contact pressure could increase the real contact area in the joint and further cause a transition from fluid film lubrication to solid contact, leading to increased friction and wear. This work sheds some light on asymmetric anatomy and frictional condition changes arising from surgery, which contribute to stress concentration in the contralateral TMJ and may be associated with degenerative changes. These findings hold significant clinical implications for selecting an optimal and patient-specific occlusal loading to mitigate excessive contact pressure and potential damage in the articular joint.

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) printed short carbon fibre reinforced nylon (SCFRN) composites were fabricated. The friction and wear behaviour of printed materials were systematically investigated under both dry sliding and water lubricated conditions. The results showed that with short fibre enhancements, the printed SCFRN achieved a lower friction coefficient and higher wear resistance than nylon under all tested conditions. Further, under water lubricated conditions, the printed SCFRN exhibited a low, stable friction coefficient due to the cooling and lubricating effects of water. However, the specific wear rate of the printed specimens could be higher than that obtained under dry sliding conditions, especially when the load was relatively low. The square textured surface was designed and created in the printing process to improve materials’ tribological performance. It was found that with the textured surface, the wear resistance of the printed SCFRN was improved under dry sliding conditions, which could be explained by the debris collection or cleaning effect of surface texture. However, such a cleaning effect was less noticeable under lubricated conditions, as the liquid could clean the surface effectively. On the other hand, surface textures could increase the surface area exposed to water, causing surface softening due to the higher water absorption rate. As a result, the samples having surface textures showed higher wear rates under lubricated conditions. The work has provided new insights into designing wear resistant polymer materials using three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies, subjected to different sliding conditions.