3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a manufacturing process that connects materials layer by layer to produce a solid object based on networked digital model files. Advantages of 3D printing over traditional manufacturing include less material consumption, lower costs, faster production process, customizable degrees of freedom and complexity of geometric shapes. The traditional manufacturing of a functional structural part often requires multiple independent process steps, while 3D printing can fabricate the same part in one step, enabling small batch production and customization of personalized products. Due to the diversity of materials available, 3D printing for polymer can be used to create lightweight complex structures in aerospace, models of architectural structures, art reproductions, and biological tissues and organs.
3D printing of polymers holds great promise. However, some limitations still exist up to now. The variety and properties of these materials of materials are limited. Currently, only thermoplastic filaments, powders, and small amounts of photopolymers with poor heat resistance and strict viscosity are available. While the mechanical strength of most 3D printed polymers is still lower than that of the materials produced by traditional methods. Therefore, these types are far from enough in practical industrial applications, especially in structural materials. In order to solve this problem, developing more kinds of 3D printing polymers, setting up better printing parameters and designed structures, and researching the printing of composites are required. At the same time, the printing process for these materials needs to be further optimized including reducing the printing time, increasing the printing size range, and improving the printing accuracy.
We are focusing on topics in additive manufacturing for polymers, publishing insightful and innovative Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles to attract much attention and promote the research and application. This Research Topic covers a wide scope, comprising new technologies, processes, methods, materials, systems, and applications in the field of additive manufacturing for polymers. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
• Novel additive manufacturing processes and techniques for polymers
• Additive manufacturing of polymers and polymer composites
• Smart materials in additive manufacturing
• Characterization and performance - mechanical, electrical, biological, optical
• Applications with multi-functionality
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a manufacturing process that connects materials layer by layer to produce a solid object based on networked digital model files. Advantages of 3D printing over traditional manufacturing include less material consumption, lower costs, faster production process, customizable degrees of freedom and complexity of geometric shapes. The traditional manufacturing of a functional structural part often requires multiple independent process steps, while 3D printing can fabricate the same part in one step, enabling small batch production and customization of personalized products. Due to the diversity of materials available, 3D printing for polymer can be used to create lightweight complex structures in aerospace, models of architectural structures, art reproductions, and biological tissues and organs.
3D printing of polymers holds great promise. However, some limitations still exist up to now. The variety and properties of these materials of materials are limited. Currently, only thermoplastic filaments, powders, and small amounts of photopolymers with poor heat resistance and strict viscosity are available. While the mechanical strength of most 3D printed polymers is still lower than that of the materials produced by traditional methods. Therefore, these types are far from enough in practical industrial applications, especially in structural materials. In order to solve this problem, developing more kinds of 3D printing polymers, setting up better printing parameters and designed structures, and researching the printing of composites are required. At the same time, the printing process for these materials needs to be further optimized including reducing the printing time, increasing the printing size range, and improving the printing accuracy.
We are focusing on topics in additive manufacturing for polymers, publishing insightful and innovative Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles to attract much attention and promote the research and application. This Research Topic covers a wide scope, comprising new technologies, processes, methods, materials, systems, and applications in the field of additive manufacturing for polymers. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
• Novel additive manufacturing processes and techniques for polymers
• Additive manufacturing of polymers and polymer composites
• Smart materials in additive manufacturing
• Characterization and performance - mechanical, electrical, biological, optical
• Applications with multi-functionality