A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk

Emre Arabacı; Serdar Halis; Bayram Yıldız; Nurettin Mert Boyacıoğlu

doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052

A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk

Abstract

The increasing adoption of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for functional applications necessitates a rigorous characterization of diverse filament formulations under mechanical stress. This study addresses the current research gap by systematically evaluating the load-dependent friction and thermal evolution of PETG, PLA+, PLA-Matte, and PLA-Silk. Through dry sliding tests under loads ranging from 5 to 15 N, we integrated real-time temperature monitoring to reveal how visual additives influence functional performance. The findings indicate that aesthetic modifications do more than alter appearance; they fundamentally dictate the tribological response. PLA-Silk demonstrated superior efficiency by maintaining the lowest coefficient of friction (0.54 at 15 N) and minimal heat generation, which is likely attributable to its unique additive formulation. Conversely, PLA-Matte proved susceptible to frictional heating, generating surface temperatures up to 53.9±1.4°C. This heat accumulation, approaching the glass transition region, triggered a rapid transition to severe adhesive wear and subsequently compromised the material’s structural integrity. While PLA+ emerged as the most balanced candidate for general use due to its stable wear rate, PETG showed distinct sensitivity to higher loads. Ultimately, this work identifies surface temperature as a decisive factor in FDM tribology. It concludes that materials designed for aesthetics require specific operational constraints when utilized in functional, sliding-contact applications.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in the study.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank “3D teknomarket” for their support in providing 3D printer and filament supplies without any financial sponsorship.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Polymers and Plastics, Materials Engineering (Other), Additive Manufacturing

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emre Arabacı ^*
0000-0002-6219-7246
Türkiye

Serdar Halis
0000-0002-6099-7223
Türkiye

Bayram Yıldız
Türkiye

Nurettin Mert Boyacıoğlu
0009-0002-8337-451X
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 27, 2026

Submission Date

February 18, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA92UK29AG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Arabacı, E., Halis, S., Yıldız, B., & Boyacıoğlu, N. M. (2026). A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk. Engineering Perspective, 6(2), 312-318. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052

AMA

1.Arabacı E, Halis S, Yıldız B, Boyacıoğlu NM. A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk. engineeringperspective. 2026;6(2):312-318. doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052

Chicago

Arabacı, Emre, Serdar Halis, Bayram Yıldız, and Nurettin Mert Boyacıoğlu. 2026. “A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk”. Engineering Perspective 6 (2): 312-18. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052.

EndNote

Arabacı E, Halis S, Yıldız B, Boyacıoğlu NM (April 1, 2026) A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk. Engineering Perspective 6 2 312–318.

IEEE

[1]E. Arabacı, S. Halis, B. Yıldız, and N. M. Boyacıoğlu, “A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk”, engineeringperspective, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 312–318, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052.

ISNAD

Arabacı, Emre - Halis, Serdar - Yıldız, Bayram - Boyacıoğlu, Nurettin Mert. “A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk”. Engineering Perspective 6/2 (April 1, 2026): 312-318. https://doi.org/10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052.

JAMA

1.Arabacı E, Halis S, Yıldız B, Boyacıoğlu NM. A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk. engineeringperspective. 2026;6:312–318.

MLA

Arabacı, Emre, et al. “A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk”. Engineering Perspective, vol. 6, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 312-8, doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052.

Vancouver

1.Emre Arabacı, Serdar Halis, Bayram Yıldız, Nurettin Mert Boyacıoğlu. A Comparative Study on the Load-Dependent Tribological Performance of Standard and Aesthetic 3D-Printed Filaments PETG, PLA+, Matte, and Silk. engineeringperspective. 2026 Apr. 1;6(2):312-8. doi:10.64808/engineeringperspective.1892052