Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.7
4.9
Journals
Polymers
Special Issues
3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition
polymers-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Polymers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 3154

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yu Zhang

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Interests: 3D printing; molecular pharmaceutics and drug delivery; polymer; green polymers; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jiaxiang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
Interests: drug delivery system; patient-focused drug development; hot-melt extrusion; 3D printing; quality by design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of Polymers’ “3D Printing Polymer: Processing and Fabrication” Special Issue, we are delighted to reopen the SI under the title of “3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition”.

The 3D printing of polymers is being increasingly used in the pharmaceutical, aerospace, and architecture industries, among others, as well as in the fabrication of sensors and other devices. This additive manufacturing technology builds 3D objects layer-by-layer (LBL), minimizing waste while achieving high geometric precision. However, many 3D-printed polymer models are still primarily used as conceptual prototypes due to strength and functionality limitations for load-bearing applications. Enhancing these properties may involve combining polymers with functional additives like nanoparticles, natural materials, and biomedically active substances (e.g., peptides, enzymes) to create multi-ingredient polymer systems with improved mechanical and functional characteristics.

This Special Issue invites papers on various aspects of polymer processing and fabrication, focusing on 3D printing (additive manufacturing) and the latest advancements in material development and the related applications. 

Dr. Yu Zhang
Dr. Jiaxiang Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • 3D printing of polymers
  • additive manufacturing
  • polymer processing and fabrication

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 3961 KB  
Article
IDeS + TRIZ: Sustainability Applied to DfAM for Polymer-Based Automotive Components
by Christian Leon-Cardenas, Giampiero Donnici, Alfredo Liverani and Leonardo Frizziero
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020239 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 174
Abstract
This study aims to gather a sustainable understanding of additive manufacturing and other Manufacturing 4.0 approaches like horizontal and vertical integration and cloud computing techniques with a focus on industrial applications. The DfAM will apply 4.0 tools to gather product feasibility and execution, [...] Read more.
This study aims to gather a sustainable understanding of additive manufacturing and other Manufacturing 4.0 approaches like horizontal and vertical integration and cloud computing techniques with a focus on industrial applications. The DfAM will apply 4.0 tools to gather product feasibility and execution, with CAE—FEM analysis and CAM. This publication focuses on the redesign of a vehicle suspension arm. The main objective is to apply innovative design techniques that optimize component performance while minimizing cost and time. The IDeS method and TRIZ methodology were used, resulting in a composite element, aiming to make the FDM-sourced process a viable option, with a weight reduction of more than 80%, with less material consumption and, hence, less vehicle energy consumption. The part obtained is holistically sustainable as it was obtained by reducing the overall labor used and material/scrap generated, and the IDES data sharing minimized rework and optimized the overall production time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2759 KB  
Article
High-Tg Vat Photopolymerization Materials Based on In Situ Sequential Interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Maleimide and Cyanate Ester Monomers
by Anh Fridman, Nicolas J. Alvarez and Giuseppe R. Palmese
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3179; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233179 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 444
Abstract
There are limited material choices for vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing processes that offer high dimensional accuracy. Acrylates and epoxies are commonly used, but their thermal properties are not suitable for applications requiring high-temperature performance. A possible solution is the use of high-performance thermosets, [...] Read more.
There are limited material choices for vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing processes that offer high dimensional accuracy. Acrylates and epoxies are commonly used, but their thermal properties are not suitable for applications requiring high-temperature performance. A possible solution is the use of high-performance thermosets, such as maleimide and cyanate ester, which are cured at high temperatures. Still, their use in vat photopolymerization methods has been limited due to the high temperature required. In this work, a photocurable formulation composed of multimaleimide monomers, a reactive diluent, and a cyanate ester was developed to improve thermal and mechanical properties and reduce cure shrinkage due to density changes during processing. In situ sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were investigated, in which the copolymerization of multimaleimide and a diluent occurs during printing, yielding a cyanate ester-swollen network with a sub-room-temperature glass transition temperature (Tg). The polymerization of the cyanate ester occurs during a high-temperature post-printing step. The resulting materials have a Tg above 250 °C (peak in the loss modulus), good fracture toughness (GIc of 100 J/m2), and overall cure shrinkage of less than 6%, with 1–2% occurring during the high-temperature post-curing step. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6627 KB  
Article
Functional Data Analysis for the Structural, Chemical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of PA12 Additively Manufactured via SLS
by Alejandro García Rodríguez, Yamid Gonzalo Reyes, Edgar Espejo Mora, Carlos Alberto Narváez Tovar and Marco Antonio Velasco Peña
Polymers 2025, 17(20), 2763; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17202763 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 742
Abstract
Additive manufacturing via selective laser sintering (SLS) enables the rapid production of geometrically complex polyamide 12 (PA12) components. However, conventional pointwise analysis techniques often overlook the full depth of continuous experimental datasets, thus limiting the interpretation of structure–function relationships that are essential to [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing via selective laser sintering (SLS) enables the rapid production of geometrically complex polyamide 12 (PA12) components. However, conventional pointwise analysis techniques often overlook the full depth of continuous experimental datasets, thus limiting the interpretation of structure–function relationships that are essential to high-performance design. This study employs functional data analysis (FDA) to elucidate the microstructural, chemical, thermal, and mechanical behaviours of SLS-fabricated PA12, focusing on the effects of build orientation (horizontal, transverse, vertical) and wall thickness (2.0–3.0 mm). The samples were produced via a commercial SLS platform and characterised via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing. The FDA was applied to raw, normalised, and first derivative datasets via Python’s Scikit-FDA package, increasing the sensitivity to latent material variations. The findings demonstrate that the build orientation has a marked influence on the crystallinity and mechanical performance: horizontal builds yield narrower gamma-phase XRD peaks, greater structural order, and enhanced tensile properties, whereas vertical builds exhibit broader peak dispersion and greater thermal sensitivity. The wall thickness effects were minor, with only isolated flux-related anomalies. The FTIR spectra confirmed the consistent chemical stability across all the conditions. The FDA successfully identified subtle transitions and anisotropies that eluded traditional methods, underscoring its methodological strength for advanced polymer characterisation. These insights offer practical guidance for refining SLS process parameters and improving predictive design strategies in polymer-based additive manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 17212 KB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Printing of Personalized Carbamazepine Tablets Using Hydrophilic Polymers: An Investigation of Correlation Between Dissolution Kinetics and Printing Parameters
by Lianghao Huang, Xingyue Zhang, Qichen Huang, Minqing Zhu, Tiantian Yang and Jiaxiang Zhang
Polymers 2025, 17(15), 2126; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17152126 - 1 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1229
Abstract
Background: Precision medicine refers to the formulation of personalized drug regimens according to the individual characteristics of patients to achieve optimal efficacy and minimize adverse reactions. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, has emerged as an optimal solution for precision [...] Read more.
Background: Precision medicine refers to the formulation of personalized drug regimens according to the individual characteristics of patients to achieve optimal efficacy and minimize adverse reactions. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, has emerged as an optimal solution for precision drug delivery, enabling customizable and the fabrication of multifunctional structures with precise control over morphology and release behavior in pharmaceutics. However, the influence of 3D printing parameters on the printed tablets, especially regarding in vitro and in vivo performance, remains poorly understood, limiting the optimization of manufacturing processes for controlled-release profiles. Objective: To establish the fabrication process of 3D-printed controlled-release tablets via comprehensively understanding the printing parameters using fused deposition modeling (FDM) combined with hot-melt extrusion (HME) technologies. HPMC-AS/HPC-EF was used as the drug delivery matrix and carbamazepine (CBZ) was used as a model drug to investigate the in vitro drug delivery performance of the printed tablets. Methodology: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to assess the thermal compatibility of CBZ with HPMC-AS/HPC-EF excipients up to 230 °C, surpassing typical processing temperatures (160–200 °C). The formation of stable amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) was validated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot-stage polarized light microscopy (PLM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). A 15-group full factorial design was then used to evaluate the effects of the fan speed (20–100%), platform temperature (40–80 °C), and printing speed (20–100 mm/s) on the tablet properties. Response surface modeling (RSM) with inverse square-root transformation was applied to analyze the dissolution kinetics, specifically t50% (time for 50% drug release) and Q4h (drug released at 4 h). Results: TGA confirmed the thermal compatibility of CBZ with HPMC-AS/HPC-EF, enabling stable ASD formation validated by DSC, PLM, and PXRD. The full factorial design revealed that printing speed was the dominant parameter governing dissolution behavior, with high speeds accelerating release and low speeds prolonging release through porosity-modulated diffusion control. RSM quadratic models showed optimal fits for t50% (R2 = 0.9936) and Q4h (R2 = 0.9019), highlighting the predictability of release kinetics via process parameter tuning. This work demonstrates the adaptability of polymer composite AM for tailoring drug release profiles, balancing mechanical integrity, release kinetics, and manufacturing scalability to advance multifunctional 3D-printed drug delivery devices in pharmaceutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing Polymers: Advancements in Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop