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Polymeric Materials for 3D Printing

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 887

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Interests: controlled radical polymerization; 3D printing; drug delivery systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, "Polymeric Materials for 3D Printing", is dedicated to exploring the latest advancements and innovations in polymer materials used in 3D printing. Polymers are at the forefront of 3D printing technology, offering unique properties such as flexibility, durability, and lightweight characteristics that are essential for various applications.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent breakthroughs in polymer formulations, processing techniques, and material performance enhancements. By addressing key challenges, such as mechanical strength, thermal stability, and environmental impact, we seek to advance the field and promote the development of more sustainable and efficient 3D printing solutions. We invite you to contribute your latest research (research articles/reviews) to this Special Issue.

Dr. Ali Bagheri
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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
  • 3D printing
  • polymers
  • composites and nanocomposites
  • biomaterials
  • engineering polymer materials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4433 KiB  
Article
Study on the Optimization of FDM Parameters for the Manufacture of Three-Point Bending Specimens from PETG and Recycled PETG in the Context of the Transition to the Circular Economy
by Dragos Valentin Iacob, Dragos Gabriel Zisopol and Mihail Minescu
Polymers 2025, 17(12), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17121645 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 453
Abstract
This study presents the results of optimizing FDM 3D printing parameters (layer height deposited in one pass—Lh and filling density—Id) to enhance the mechanical performance of three-point bending specimens made from PETG and recycled PETG (rPETG). The objectives of the [...] Read more.
This study presents the results of optimizing FDM 3D printing parameters (layer height deposited in one pass—Lh and filling density—Id) to enhance the mechanical performance of three-point bending specimens made from PETG and recycled PETG (rPETG). The objectives of the study are to investigate the influence of variable parameters (Lh and Id) on the three-point bending behavior of additively manufactured specimens by thermoplastic extrusion of PETG and rPETG. It is also aims to optimize the manufacturing parameters to maximize mechanical performance, but also to evaluate the potential of using rPETG in mechanical engineering applications. The materials analyzed in this study are PETG and recycled PETG (rPETG), in the context of promoting the concept of circular economy. Using the QIDI Q1 Pro 3D printer, and the variable parameters of FDM, Lh = (0.10; 0.15; 0.20) mm and Id = (50; 75; 100)%, 90 three-point bending specimens (45 from PETG and 45 from rPETG) were additively manufactured. To determine the mechanical strength characteristics under three-point bending stress, all 90 additively manufactured specimens were tested in three-point bending using a Barrus White 20 kN universal testing machine. The maximum bending stress is influenced by the two considered variable parameters of FDM (Lh and Id), the parameter with the greater impact being Id. Comparing the results of the maximum bending stresses of the additively manufactured specimens made of PETG and rPETG using the optimal parameters, it was found that the maximum bending stresses are higher in the case of the rPETG specimens, which highlights the potential of using recycled plastics in mechanical engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials for 3D Printing)
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15 pages, 2442 KiB  
Article
Complete Dosimetric Characterization of an In-House Manufactured SFRT Grid Collimator by 3D Printing with PLA-W Composite Filament
by José Velásquez, Melani Fuentealba and Mauricio Santibáñez
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111496 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive dosimetric characterization and commissioning of a grid-type collimator manufactured via 3D printing using PLA-W composite filament, following an international protocol for small-field dosimetry. PLA doped with high concentrations of tungsten (>90% w/w) enables the fabrication [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive dosimetric characterization and commissioning of a grid-type collimator manufactured via 3D printing using PLA-W composite filament, following an international protocol for small-field dosimetry. PLA doped with high concentrations of tungsten (>90% w/w) enables the fabrication of miniaturized collimators (<1 cm) with complex geometries, suitable for non-conventional radiotherapy applications. However, accurate assessment of spatial dose modulation is challenged by penumbra overlap between closely spaced beamlets, limiting the application of conventional instrumentation and protocols. To address this, absolute and relative dose distributions were evaluated for various radiation field configurations (number of beamlets) in both lateral and depth directions. Measurements were performed according to the IAEA TRS-483 protocol, using micro-ionization chambers and diode detectors. Additionally, long-term stability assessments were carried out to evaluate both the structural integrity and modulation performance of the printed grid over time. Point dose measurements using the same detectors were repeated after one year, and 2D surface dose distributions measured with EBT3 films were compared to SRS MapCHECK measurements two years later. The generated radiation field size of the central beamlet (FWHM) differed by less than 0.2% (15.8 mm) from the physical projection size (15.6 mm) and the lateral transmission due simultaneous beamlets resulted in FWHM variations of less than 3.8%, confirming manufacturing precision and collimator capability. Output factor measurements increased with the number of beamlets, from 0.75 for a single beamlet to 0.82 for the full beamlets configuration. No significant changes were observed in the depth of maximum dose across the different beamlets configurations (1.20 ± 0.20 cm). On the other hand, the long-term evaluations show no relevant changes in the FWHM or VPR, confirming the performance and reliability of the system. These results support the clinical feasibility and lasting performance stability of in-house manufactured grid collimators using PLA-W filaments and accessible 3D printing technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials for 3D Printing)
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