Material and Process Innovations for 3D Printing Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is an innovative and emerging technology offering many advantages for various applications and industries at the design, material and processing level. AM offers many opportunities, encourages unique designs and integrates new materials, smart production methods, digitalization and advanced information technology within Industry 4.0. The contribution of AM to the circular economy is also of great importance. AM is essential as it allows the production of personalized products and lot size one with shorter lead times and less waste. Recently, AM research also has focused on the integration of certain aspects such as sustainability, recyclability and circular economy. In addition, environmental and health issues that occur when producing and applying AM are investigated.

In general, additive manufacturing can reduce inventory, make complex parts on demand, create smaller localized manufacturing environments and reduce the cost and complexity of supply chains, thus reducing logistics needs. AM technologies are very promising due to their tremendous market opportunities and multicomponent compatibility for a wide scope of materials such as polymers, composites, metals, ceramics and hybrids.

Understanding the fundamental relationship between the design, the materials and processing innovations, as well as broadening the available materials, is important for the additive manufacturing of advanced engineering (e.g., automotive and aerospace sector), medical (e.g., scaffolds and tissue engineering) and related technologies. Achieving high product quality by a combination of both material sciences and equipment/processing innovation is another main and common research challenge. For most AM technologies, the process relies on the transition of liquid phases into well-defined solid materials. This transition is influenced by many parameters that are either processing or material related.

In this Topic, there is a focus on the connection between the research fields of materials science and process innovations for additive manufacturing applications. Both theoretical and experimental contributions can be submitted.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue, including full papers, reviews and short communications.

Prof. Dr. Ludwig Cardon
Prof. Dr. Clemens Holzer
Topic Editors