3D Printing Materials: An Option for Sustainability

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The 3D printing process is the newest method for creating materials with specific shapes that cannot be obtained using conventional methods such as molding, injection, extrusion and others. The 3D printing process can be applied to polymers, metals and composites, among others, on which filaments, powders or resins are deposited layer by layer to obtain three-dimensional pieces. The choice of material depends on the printing technology and the final application, ranging from prototypes to industrial-use parts, and, recently, applications in buildings.

A key issue that has arisen in recent years is sustainability, due the need to provide environmentally friendly conditions in order to assist future generations, which can be achieved using natural, social and economic resources.

Sustainable materials are those that have reduced environmental damage in their production, use and disposal, including recycled or natural resources, and that produce a low carbon footprint, including renewable, recyclable or biobased materials.

This Topic is focused on sustainable materials that can be obtained from all kinds of 3D printing processes, aiming to produce environmentally friendly materials that contribute to the circular economy and solve environmental issues.

Dr. José Luis Rivera-Armenta
Dr. Cynthia G. Flores-Hernández
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.1	4.4	2011	15.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Journal of Composites Science jcs	3.7	5.8	2017	15.9 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Materials Polymers J. Compos. Sci. Applied Sciences Buildings

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18 pages, 4516 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Surface Modification of FeSiB Soft Magnetic Amorphous Powders for High Processability in 3D Direct Writing

by Xinjie Yuan, Yongxing Jia and Jing Hu

J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(4), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10040217 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 627

Abstract

Soft magnetic composite materials have a low total loss and high magnetic conductivity and are highly desirable for high-frequency motors, semiconductors, and 5G communication technologies. However, these composites often contain a high-volume fraction of soft magnetic metallic powders and are difficult to process [...] Read more.

Soft magnetic composite materials have a low total loss and high magnetic conductivity and are highly desirable for high-frequency motors, semiconductors, and 5G communication technologies. However, these composites often contain a high-volume fraction of soft magnetic metallic powders and are difficult to process into complex shapes. Herein, iron-based amorphous powders were surface-modified with silane coupling agents (DTMS and KH570) and applied in 3D direct ink writing (DIW). The modified powders exhibit improved compatibility and dispersion in epoxy resin. The optimized 92.3 wt% FeSiB@3.35 wt% KH570/EP slurry shows favorable rheological properties and a dense interfacial microstructure. The printed composite achieves the best magnetic performance (M_s: 137.02 ± 1.2 emu/g, H_c: 6.63 ± 0.2 Oe) and stable permeability up to 1 GHz. The surface modification enhanced slurry fluidity, preventing nozzle blockage and increasing powder loading. Various shaped magnetic cores were successfully fabricated with excellent magnetic properties and printing quality. Our work paves a new way for realizing the high processibility of soft magnetic composites, which lays a foundation for a technique for the wide applications of these materials in various electronic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic 3D Printing Materials: An Option for Sustainability)

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17 pages, 3585 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility Study of Manufacturing Hydraulic Fittings Using Additive Manufacturing Technologies: Comparative Analysis of FDM and SLA Methods

by Jakub Backiel, Pawel Dzienis, Karol Golak, Przemysław Zamojski, Maciej Rećko, Rafał Grądzki, José Emiliano Martínez and Rogelio Valdés

Materials 2026, 19(4), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19040799 - 18 Feb 2026

Viewed by 547

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of manufacturing hydraulic fittings using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, specifically Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA). The study addresses the environmental challenge of material waste in conventional fitting production by exploring 3D printing as an alternative manufacturing [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the feasibility of manufacturing hydraulic fittings using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, specifically Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA). The study addresses the environmental challenge of material waste in conventional fitting production by exploring 3D printing as an alternative manufacturing method. Hydraulic fittings were designed using CAD software: SolidWorks 2022 and fabricated using FDM with PETG (Polyethene Terephthalate Glycol) material and SLA with UV-sensitive photopolymer resin. In present studies, on-destructive leak testing was conducted in accordance with PN-EN 1254-4 and PN-EN 1254, at pressures ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 bar. Dimensional accuracy analysis revealed shrinkage of approximately 1% for SLA-printed parts and 2% for FDM-printed parts. Microscopic examination at 50× and 80× magnification showed superior thread quality in SLA samples compared to FDM, which exhibited visible layer separation and material porosity. Leak testing demonstrated that while the brass reference fitting maintained complete seal integrity, both 3D-printed variants failed to achieve leak tightness under operational pressures, with structural failure occurring at 1.0 bar during tightening. The study showed that FDM with PETG material and SLA with UV-sensitive photopolymer resin, despite achieving acceptable dimensional tolerances (±1–2%), do not meet hydraulic leak tightness requirements at pressures exceeding 0.5 bar in their raw state after printing. The results suggest that alternative material formulations (e.g., carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK for FDM or epoxy engineering resins for SLA) warrant further investigation. Potential avenues for improvement include advanced surface treatment, optimization of printing parameters, and modifications to thread geometry to reduce interthread gaps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic 3D Printing Materials: An Option for Sustainability)

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17 pages, 4391 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication of Highly Conductive Inkjet Printing Silver Nanoparticle Ink via a Synergistic Strategy Combining Centrifugal Classification and Dispersant Optimization

by Guo-Xiang Zhou, Yan Wang, Xing-Ping Zhou, Kuang Zhang, Zhi-Hua Yang, De-Chang Jia and Yu Zhou

Materials 2026, 19(3), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030628 - 6 Feb 2026

Viewed by 674

Abstract

Inkjet printing technology shows significant potential for producing high-performance conductive circuits in printed electronics. However, conventional silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) inks often face challenges such as nozzle clogging, poor stability, and low conductivity after low-temperature sintering. While most existing studies focus solely on [...] Read more.

Inkjet printing technology shows significant potential for producing high-performance conductive circuits in printed electronics. However, conventional silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) inks often face challenges such as nozzle clogging, poor stability, and low conductivity after low-temperature sintering. While most existing studies focus solely on dispersant selection or individual process optimization, few have systematically explored the synergistic effects of particle size distribution, dispersion methods, and dispersant dosage. This study proposes a sequential optimization approach involving centrifugal classification to identify an optimal Ag NPs source and size distribution, followed by comparison and optimization of different dispersion methods. Furthermore, the effects of dispersant (a PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer) concentration and application strategy (individual or combined use) on the rheological properties and conductivity of the ink were systematically investigated. The optimized Ag NP ink demonstrated excellent jetting stability with no nozzle clogging, exhibiting a surface tension of 19.60 mN/m and a viscosity of 6.83 mPa·s. After low-temperature sintering at 260 °C on glass or polyimide (PI) substrates, the printed patterns achieved a high electrical conductivity of 1.506 × 10⁷ S/m. Printing on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 150 °C confirmed compatibility with heat-sensitive flexible substrates. This work offers a comprehensive and practical strategy for developing highly reliable and conductive Ag NP inks, facilitating their application in next-generation printed electronics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic 3D Printing Materials: An Option for Sustainability)

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