Experimental study on erosion of a 3D printed PLA in flowing aqueous solution of different pH value

Abstract

The demand for durable, efficient, and cost-effective working equipment is hindered by the challenges posed by material removal, particularly through erosive wear resulting from the interaction of surfaces. This research focuses on understanding the collateral impact of erosion caused by the pH value of slurry and erodent particles. Polylactic acid (PLA) serves as the target material, featuring grid, concentric, and zigzag infill textures for experimental purposes. Employing the L9 Taguchi array, two sets of experiments are conducted using calcite and garnet sand with different average sizes. The L9 Taguchi array considers slurry pH value, erodent size, and surface texture as input parameters, as these factors significantly influence erosive wear. Notably, in industries such as cement manufacturing, where limestone undergoes mining, transportation, and processing, resulting in varying pH values due to impurities in the particles, slurry-induced erosion poses a significant challenge. Similarly, the use of garnet sand in abrasive jet cutting introduces pH variations in the slurry due to impurities, impacting erosion in valves and pipes. The study explores erosion in highly basic, highly alkaline, and slightly basic environments, employing different surface textures to evaluate resistance in PLA samples. Three different average-sized erodents are utilized to account for variations in particle sizes during operations. Measurement methods, including thickness loss, mass loss, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, are employed to quantify erosion rates. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is conducted to rank the significance of input parameters affecting erosion. Furthermore, erosion areas are measured using image analysis software, and both macroscopic and microscopic examinations of eroded samples are presented. The study results, represented through contour plots, provide valuable insights into the factors influencing erosion in PLA, contributing to the development of strategies for enhancing material durability and mitigating erosive wear in diverse operational environments