Materials

As defined by Merriam-Webster, if a material is flame retardant, it is “made or treated so as to resist burning.” Or in simpler words, in contrast to flame resistance, where something can operate as normal within fire conditions, anything that is…

FDM/FFF 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular, especially for private use. Whether at home or in the office, 3D printing with filaments can not only be a handy way to create everyday objects, it also gives free rein to creativity…

3D printing is gaining ground in many areas, including aerospace and defense. Already, additive manufacturing has been used to produce parts for Boeing’s combat helicopters and satellite antennas in space. In addition, research projects on the subject of 3D printing…

A 3D printing process that is particularly relevant for the repair or coating of metal objects such as damaged jet aircraft turbine blades is directed energy deposition (DED). It is widely used in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, shipping and…

The term wax 3D printing is somewhat misleading, as in fact should be considered indirect 3D printing. In other words, 3D printing is not used to manufacture the final part, but as a step in the process. Wax 3D printing…

Though much focus in additive manufacturing is on the processes themselves, materials play a huge role in the final properties and characteristics of a part. It is for this reason that more and more we are seeing research and development…

There is now a wide variety of processes in the field of innovative 3D printing technology. One of these is so-called two-photon polymerization (2PP), which is often used in applications for 3D printing in the micrometer range, such as in…

Aramid fiber is a synthesized polyamide widely used in additive manufacturing and characterized by its high strength. It was first developed in 1965 by chemist Stephanie Kwolek, a pioneer in polymer research who won several patents and awards during her…

Sustainable materials are increasingly in the spotlight as both companies and research teams try to find more eco-friendly alternatives for different industries. One of the sectors that places most emphasis on this quest for sustainability is the construction industry. This…

Support removal can be an annoying part of post-processing in 3D printing. However, it does not have to be. If you have a dual-extruder 3D FDM 3D printer, or any other process that allows multi-material printing, you can take advantage…

When it comes to 3D printing, materials are key. The properties and characteristics of each material family (whether metals, plastics or ceramics) will significantly impact the resulting part. And knowing which material would be best suited is a critical step…

Materials manufacturer Elkem Silicones has announced the development of a 3D printing powder for electric motor components. More specifically, the material is an iron silicon powder that can be easily magnetized and demagnetized, thus enabling the creation of more resistant…