Innovation in Additive Manufacturing Using Polymers: A Survey on the Technological and Material Developments

Mauricio A. Sarabia-Vallejos, Fernando E. Rodríguez-Umanzor, Carmen M. González-Henríquez*, Juan Rodríguez-Hernández

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

This review summarizes the most recent advances from technological and physico-chem-ical perspectives to improve several remaining issues in polymeric materials’ additive manufacturing (AM). Without a doubt, AM is experimenting with significant progress due to technological innovations that are currently advancing. In this context, the state-of-the-art considers both research areas as working separately and contributing to developing the different AM technologies. First, AM techniques’ advantages and current limitations are analyzed and discussed. A detailed overview of the efforts made to improve the two most extensively employed techniques, i.e., material extrusion and VAT-photopolymerization, is presented. Aspects such as the part size, the possibility of producing parts in a continuous process, the improvement of the fabrication time, the reduction of the use of supports, and the fabrication of components using more than one material are ana-lyzed. The last part of this review complements these technological advances with a general overview of the innovations made from a material perspective. The use of reinforced polymers, the preparation of adapted high-temperature materials, or even the fabrication of metallic and ceramic parts using polymers as supports are considered. Finally, the use of smart materials that enable the fabrication of shape-changing 3D objects and sustainable materials will also be explored.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1351
JournalPolymers
Volume14
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors recognize the financial support given by FONDECYT Grant N° 1170209 and N° 1220251. M.A. Sarabia-Vallejos acknowledges financial support from Universidad San Sebastián (USS) via its project N° VRID FAI 21/17. J. Rodriguez-Hernandez acknowledges financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Project MAT2016-78437-R, FONDOS FEDER, and RTI2018-096328-B-I00). Finally, we would like to thank the PIT FAB3D, PTI + Salud Gobal and the PTI + SUSPLAST from CSIC for their support.

Funding Information:
Funding: The authors recognize the financial support given by FONDECYT Grant N° 1170209 and N° 1220251. M.A. Sarabia-Vallejos acknowledges financial support from Universidad San Sebastián (USS) via its project N° VRID FAI 21/17. J. Rodriguez-Hernandez acknowledges financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Project MAT2016-78437-R, FONDOS FEDER, and RTI2018-096328-B-I00). Finally, we would like to thank the PIT FAB3D, PTI + Salud Gobal and the PTI + SUSPLAST from CSIC for their support.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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