Polymers for 3D Printing and Customized Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

A review. Additive Manufg. (AM) alias 3D Printing translates computer aided design (CAD) virtual 3D models into phys. objects. By digital slicing of CAD, 3D scan or tomog. data, AM builds objects layer by layer without the need for molds or machining. AM enables decentralized fabrication of customized objects on demand by exploiting digital information storage and retrieval via the Internet. The ongoing transition from rapid prototyping to rapid manufg. prompts new challenges for mech. engineers and materials scientists alike. Since polymers are by far the most utilized class of materials for AM, this review focuses on polymer processing and the development of polymers and advanced polymer systems specifically for AM. AM techniques covered include vat photopolymn. (stereolithog.)​, powder bed fusion (SLS)​, material and binder jetting (inkjet and aerosol 3D printing)​, sheet lamination (LOM)​, extrusion (FDM, 3D dispensing, 3D fiber deposition, 3D plotting) and 3D bioprinting. The range of polymers used in AM encompasses thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, hydrogels, functional polymers, polymer blends, composites and biol. systems. Aspects of polymer design, additives and processing parameters as they relate to enhancing build speed and improving accuracy, functionality, surface finish, stability, mech. properties and porosity are addressed. Selected applications demonstrate how polymer-​based AM is being exploited in lightwt. engineering, architecture, food processing, optics, energy technol., dentistry, drug delivery and personalized medicine. Unparalleled by metals and ceramics, polymer-​based AM plays a key role in the emerging AM of advanced multifunctional and multimaterial systems including living biol. systems as well as life-​like synthetic systems.