Design and Process Strategies for Mechanical Reinforcement in Polymer Additive Manufacturing
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 668
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymer additive manufacturing (AM) is crucial to producing lightweight, customized, and functional components. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of polymer-printed parts remain weak in comparison to those of conventionally manufactured materials due to poor interlayer bonding, void formation, and processing anisotropy. This Special Issue focuses on design and process strategies for mechanical reinforcement in polymer AM and related fabrication techniques. Topics of interest include novel material formulations such as fiber- or nanoparticle-reinforced thermoplastics, structural and lattice design optimization, and process parameter control for enhanced interlayer adhesion and strength uniformity. Post-processing approaches, including annealing, surface modification, or infiltration, are also encouraged. We welcome studies employing experimental characterization, finite element analysis, or machine learning-based optimization to predict and improve mechanical behavior. By bridging materials science, design methodology, and process engineering, this Special Issue aims to advance the understandings and performance of high-strength polymer AM components for real-world structural and functional applications.
Dr. Seong Je Park
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- additive manufacturing
- material extrusion
- powder bed fusion
- binder jetting
- mechanical reinforcement
- process optimization
- design for additive manufacturing
- post-processing
- machine learning and AI optimization
- numerical simulation and modeling
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