Materials

Alumina, also known as aluminum oxide, is a technical ceramic material that occurs naturally in bauxite, a rock that also contains iron oxide. Bauxite is typically purified using Bayer’s process, which extracts a white powder that can then be transformed…

Glass is a material that we encounter every day, and it can be found in many forms. It also has interesting characteristics for numerous applications: transparency, chemical inertness, electrical insulation, heat resistance and recyclability. However, despite its advantages, it is…

Do you want to 3D print your parts, but can’t decide between polymers or metals? When it comes to 3D printing, there’s one material that combines the best of both worlds: alumide. This is an interesting option that involves combining…

Zirconia, or zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), is a crystalline ceramic material renowned for its excellent resistance to impact and wear, as well as for its aesthetic qualities. Most often machined, notably for dental applications, zirconia can also be 3D printed to…

Manufacturing parts using titanium alloys is complex and expensive, requires a lot of patience and users make only slow progress. Even modern technologies such as metal 3D printing can only help to a limited extent. Currently, trial and error is…

In recent years, 3D printing has revolutionized the way materials are designed and made, paving the way for extraordinary innovations. One of the most promising trends is the use of biomimicry: the imitation of nature’s structures and strategies to develop…

After the success of last year’s ADDITIV virtual events, which brought together thousands of additive manufacturing professionals, with key players in different industries, the leading virtual event platform for additive manufacturing is back once again. This time, we’re happy to…

One of the core aspects that makes RAPID + TCT more than just a trade show is its conference. This year, there will be more than 140 technical presentations divided into eight tracks, only accessible for attendees with a conference…

Thanks to its diverse benefits, 3D printing offers many opportunities for companies to break with their usual production routines and make them more efficient. But the technology does not come without its share of challenges. Many attempts fail due to…

A plastic is a material made from synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds that is malleable (capable of changing its shape). Most plastics on the market are entirely synthetic and are commonly derived from petroleum chemicals. However, given the growing concern for…

Thanks to machine learning and 3D printing, researchers at the University of Toronto have developed nano-architected materials that combine the strength of carbon steel with the lightness of polystyrene foam. 3D printing, which facilitates the creation of such innovative materials,…

Sometimes, you may want a part to be transparent for aesthetic reasons, and other times, transparency is a functional necessity. In either case,  3D printing’s flexibility in terms of design, materials and processes makes it possible to create parts with…