ABSTRACT
This work is focused on the development of rapid nano-tooling and the wide applications in clinical dentistry. Rapid nano-tooling has been accomplished on a fused deposition modeling (FDM) setup with a composite material feed-stock filament, comprising of biocompatible polymer composite reinforced with nano-aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles, in order to cater to the needs of a wear-resistant tailor-made grinding wheel for dental applications. The friction and wear behavior of FDM parts, fabricated with composite material and an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material feed-stock filament, were compared under dry sliding conditions. The tests were performed by applying loads of 5, 10, 15 and 20N at room temperature. The results highlight various wear mechanisms, such as adhesive, abrasive and fatigue. The composite material showed remarkable improvement in wear properties as compared to the ABS material. The parts fabricated with the proposed composite material feed-stock filament are highly more wear resistant than basic ABS filament, especially for grinding applications.
