This study aims to investigate the potential of natural fibre 3D braided woven fabric (NFBF) reinforced PLA (poly lactic acid) composites for tribological applications. Composites with different fibre contents are prepared using film stacking process and hot press methods. Friction co-efficient and wear rate of the composites are analysed using pin-on-disc tribometer under dry contact sliding condition and various operating conditions (velocity and load) for a fixed sliding distance of 3000 m. The morphology of the worn surfaces is studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The reinforcement of fibre with the PLA reduced the polymer film generation and improved the surface roughness significantly. Wear rate of the composites are decreased drastically compared to pure PLA. Composite with 35 wt.% of NFBF reinforcement showed better wear characteristics.

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This study presents influence of thermal environment on buckling behaviour of natural fibre braided yarn fabric reinforced polylactic acid composite beams. The thermal buckling study is carried out using an in-house built experimental set up for beam like composites exposed to different types of in-plane temperature variations. Influences of temperature variations, direction of loading and volume fraction of fibre are studied in detail. Results indicate that deflection behaviour of natural fibre braided fabric/polylactic acid beam is entirely different from the polylactic acid beam. Enhancement of natural fibre braided fabric reinforcement on thermal deflection is observed only at higher temperature as less deflection is observed for polylactic acid beams at lower temperature range (25°C to 45°C). According to the nature of heating, maximum deflection in the range of 0.503 cm to 1.082 cm corresponding to the temperature range of 63.443°C to 67.917°C is observed for polylactic acid beams. For natural fibre braided fabric/polylactic acid beams, the maximum deflection range is 0.826 cm to 0.105 cm corresponding to the temperature range of 57.031°C to 44.742°C according to the heating condition. Thermal deflection of natural fibre braided fabric beam is sensitive to testing orientation of the beam and maximum deflection for warp loading is 29% to 54% lower than the weft loading.