Recent Advancements in Additive Manufacturing of Polymer Composites
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: high-performance polymers; composites; advanced manufacturing; smart materials; sustainability
Interests: additive manufacturing; bioactive composites; mechanical engineering; materials science; biomedical engineering
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The additive manufacturing (AM) of polymer composites is transforming how functional materials and components are designed, optimized, and produced across industries. This Special Issue of Polymers focuses on emerging technologies and material systems that push the boundaries of AM for polymers and composites, such as material extrusion (FDM), vat photopolymerization (SLA/DLP), powder-bed fusion, and direct ink writing. Particular emphasis is placed on high-performance thermoplastics, thermosets, nanocomposites, and bio-based or recyclable polymers tailored for demanding applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and energy sectors.
We seek contributions addressing advanced feedstock design, interfacial compatibility, reinforcement strategies, and structure–property optimization through computational modelling, process simulation, and in situ monitoring. Studies tackling cutting-edge challenges such as multi-material integration, anisotropy control, porosity reduction, and scaling from prototyping to production are particularly encouraged, along with research linking AM process innovation with digital manufacturing (through AI-assisted optimization, digital twins, and closed-loop control).
By combining insights with materials science, manufacturing engineering, and digital technologies, this Special Issue aims to showcase the most recent breakthroughs in the reliable, scalable, and sustainable additive manufacturing of polymer composites for next-generation engineering applications.
Dr. Atefeh Golbang
Dr. Faisal Manzoor
Prof. Dr. Alistair McIlhagger
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
- additive manufacturing
- polymer composites
- high-performance polymers
- nanocomposites
- 3D printing
- digital twin
- process simulation
- structure–property–processing relationship
- sustainable manufacturing
- hybrid and multi-material systems
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