Materials

In Rotterdam, Netherlands, the first 3D printed pedestrian bridge is being built, and should be installed before the end of 2020. Currently, it’s a wooden footbridge that exists in the Kralingse Bos, soon to be replaced by a lightweight 3D…

When it comes to product development, additive manufacturing has an important role to play, allowing for quicker iterations, leading to shorter production times. Many design offices have equipped themselves with 3D printing solutions to accelerate innovation and bring to the…

Damascus steel is a type of steel originally used for sword blades. In Germany, a team from Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung (MPIE) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology have developed a process that allows this type of steel to be…

The rapid evolution of additive manufacturing brings with it the development of multiple materials. In the last two years alone, material suppliers have doubled according to the latest Wohlers Report. Although material growth is still leading in metals, in second…

The US additive manufacturing giant, HP has unveiled a new material for its Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing solutions. In collaboration with chemical company BASF, it is developing a powder and highly reusable polypropylene, called 3D High Reusability PP, it…

A plastic is a material made of synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds that has the property of being malleable (capable of changing its shape). Most plastics on the market are completely synthetic (most commonly derived from petrochemicals). However, given the growing…

Finisterre is a British brand that designs environmentally friendly clothing and accessories, particularly for surfers. The company has recently initiated a new project around additive manufacturing: why not 3D print the accessories that allow us “to close” our clothes –…

So-called thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a type of elastomer that is characterised by its high flexibility and durability in processing, combining the properties of both thermoplastics and rubbers. In its chemical composition we find that its adaptability is due to the…

Polyetherketoneketone, better known by its acronym PEKK, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic that is increasingly used in the additive manufacturing market. Often compared to PEEK, it belongs to the same family – the PAEK family – known for its mechanical and…

Produced for the first time by Joseph Swan in 1860, carbon fiber is made of a long chain of carbon atoms bonded together. The chain is usually between 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter and varies in length according to…

Polyether ether ketone, more commonly known as PEEK, is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic that is well known in the manufacturing industry for its mechanical properties. For some years now, it has been a popular material in the additive manufacturing sector. Today,…

For a long time additive manufacturing was considered a technology for rapid prototyping. However, AM technologies have been increasingly employed for series production of parts that need to be customized or require designs impossible to manufacture using traditional methods. In…