About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
2026 Technical Division Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPG-100: Understanding Stick-Slip and Shape Pattern Effects in Bio-inspired Composite Materials for Improved Ice Traction |
| Author(s) |
Sabrina Islam, Md Shaheen Mahmood, Denis Maxwell Valerievich Makarov, Ali Beheshti, Shaghayegh Bagheri |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Denis Maxwell Valerievich Makarov |
| Abstract Scope |
Slips and falls on icy surfaces are primarily caused by reduced friction due to the formation of a liquid-like layer at the ice-contact interface. This study investigates the stick-slip friction behavior of bioinspired, additively manufactured TPU-based composites for slip-resistant footwear. TPU reinforced with carbon fiber, Zylon fiber, and hexagonal boron nitride, with and without recycled polyurethane foam, was evaluated on ice using a high-speed rotational tribological setup. To assess the role of surface geometry, three distinct tread patterns, circular, hexagonal, and tire-inspired patterns, were examined. Increasing fiber content to 12% enhanced static and kinetic friction by 95% and 114%, respectively, while 8% fiber content increased friction by 75% and 98%, promoting pronounced stick-slip behavior. Incorporation of recycled foam reduced friction by 8%. Among the tested geometries, hexagonal tread patterns consistently exhibited the highest friction, demonstrating that both composite formulation and tread geometry play critical roles in ice-traction performance. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Composites, Polymers |