Additive Manufactuging of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites and Composites: Progress and Prospects

Dear Colleagues,

Traditional manufacturing techniques, such as Injection Molding, Resin Transfer Molding, Compression Molding, Pultrusion, etc., are commonly used to manufacture polymer-based composites and nanocomposites; however, these techniques require large apparatus and molds, thereby making them expensive. Moreover, the production of complex and customized parts is limited by these techniques. On the contrary, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques allow complex and custom parts to be produced with budget-friendly and small apparatus. AM, which is also referred to as 3D printing, can be described as a class of techniques based on blending materials (such as thermoplastic filaments, liquid resin, and powders) by either fusion, binding, or solidification in a layer-by-layer fashion using 3D CAD modeling. AM was first demonstrated in 1980 by Kodama, who published the paper “Three-Dimensional Data Display by Automatic Preparation of a Three-Dimensional Model”; since that year, the number of publications and patents related to 3D printing has grown exponentially. Different AM processes depend on the material preparation, layer generation technique, phase change phenomenon, material type, and application requirements. Over the last decade, the use of AM processes has grown remarkably in all industrial fields, from automotive and aerospace to the electronic, food, and medical industries.

Despite significant progress in AM, obtaining advanced polymer materials such as composites and nanocomposites, i.e., materials with improved mechanical and thermal properties or tailored functional properties (such as electrical conductivity and antimicrobial properties), remains challenging.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish original articles, critical reviews, research notes, analyses, case studies, and short communications related to progress in the 3D printing of polymer-based composites and nanocomposites. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Three-dimensional printing processes: progress in innovative techniques for the 3D printing of polymer-based composites and nanocomposites.
2. Nanocomposite and composite preparation processes: novel techniques to realize nanocomposites and impregnate reinforcement fibers suitable for 3D printing processes.
3. Printed materials: the outcomes of using thermoset and thermoplastic nanocomposites or continuous and discontinuous fiber composites.
4. Forming mechanism: the modeling and simulation of 3DP technologies for polymer composites and nanocomposites.
5. Characterization: the study of printed materials in terms of microstructure and the properties derived from various printing parameters and reinforcement additions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Aldobenedetto Zotti
Dr. Mauro Zarrelli
Prof. Dr. Aniello Riccio
Guest Editors

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