Innovation in 3D Printing Materials

The most commonly used 3D Printing materials today are plastics, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), nylon, polycarbonate, resins and metals. However, the growing popularity of 3D Printing, both for hobbyists and businesses has spurred the availability of 3D Printing materials in recent years. There are an increasing number of companies that manufacture and sell 3D Printing materials today (Stratasys for example), and the race to develop new and improved 3D Printing materials will continue. Let us take at three promising 3D Printing materials of the near future.

Graphene
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material known to man. Graphene has a number of unique properties, including:

• Strength: Graphene has a tensile strength of 130 giga pascals, which is about 200 times stronger than steel.
• Conductivity: it is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It has a thermal conductivity of 5,000 watts per meter per Kelvin, which is about 100 times higher than copper.
• Flexibility: Graphene is a very flexible material and can be bent and twisted without breaking.
• Transparency: it is transparent to visible light and has a high transmittance of 97%.

Graphene 3D Printing is a relatively new field, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we design and manufacture products. By combining the unique properties of graphene with the versatility of 3D Printing, it is possible to create new products that are lighter, stronger, more durable, and more efficient than anything that is possible with traditional manufacturing methods. 

Disadvantages of graphene as a 3D Printing material include its difficulty in processing, cost, and limited availability. 

Graphene 3D Printing could be used to create new types of aircraft parts, automotive components, and medical implants. It could also be used to create new types of electronics, batteries, and solar cells.

Polymer Composites
Polymer composites are made by combining a polymer with another material, such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, or metal. They offer a good balance of strength, stiffness, and weight. Polymer composites are materials made by combining a polymer matrix with a reinforcement material. The polymer matrix is a material that holds the reinforcement material together, while the reinforcement material provides strength and stiffness. There are many different types of polymer composites, but some of the most common ones include:

• Fibre-reinforced composites: These composites are made by embedding fibres, such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, or Kevlar, into a polymer matrix. The fibres provide strength and stiffness, while the polymer matrix holds the fibres in place.
• Particle-reinforced composites: These composites are made by embedding particles, such as ceramic particles or metal particles, into a polymer matrix. The particles provide strength, stiffness, and / or weight reduction, while the polymer matrix holds the particles in place.
• Laminated composites: These composites are made by bonding layers of different materials together. The layers can be made of different polymers, or they can be made of a polymer and a reinforcement material.

Polymer composites offer a number of advantages for 3D Printing, including:

• High strength and stiffness: Polymer composites can be much stronger and stiffer than traditional polymers. This makes them ideal for applications where strength and stiffness are important, such as in aerospace and automotive applications.
• Lightweight: Polymer composites are often much lighter than traditional materials, such as metals. This makes them ideal for applications where weight is a major concern, such as in the aerospace industry.
• Design flexibility: Polymer composites can be designed to have a variety of properties, depending on the application. This makes them ideal for customized parts and prototypes.

However, polymer composites also have some disadvantages, including high cost, complex manufacturing process, and limited availability.

Here are some specific examples of how polymer composites are being used in 3D Printing:

• Aerospace: Polymer composites are used to make parts for aircraft, such as wings, fuselages, and propellers. They are also used to make components for satellites and missiles.
• Automotive: Polymer composites are used to make parts for cars, such as bumpers, spoilers, and door panels. They are also used to make components for racing cars and Formula One cars.
• Medical: These composites are used to make medical implants, such as artificial joints and bone scaffolds. They are also used to make surgical tools and other medical devices.

Biomaterials
Biomaterials are materials that can be used to interact with biological systems. They are often used in medical devices, such as implants and prosthetics. Biomaterials can also be used in tissue engineering, which is the process of creating new tissues and organs.

There are a number of different types of biomaterials that can be used for 3D Printing. Some of the most common types of biomaterials include natural polymers, synthetic polymers, ceramics and metals like titanium and stainless steel.

Disadvantages include cost, complexity in working, and risk of rejection by the human body or other adverse reactions. 

Biocompatible materials for 3D Printing have a wide range of applications, including:

• Medical implants and devices: They can be used to create a variety of medical implants and devices, such as joint replacements, dental implants, vascular stents, and heart valves.
• Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Biocompatible materials can be used to create scaffolds that support the growth of new tissue. This is a promising approach for treating a variety of conditions, such as bone defects, cartilage injuries, and skin burns.
• Drug delivery: Biocompatible materials can be used to create drug delivery systems that release drugs in a controlled manner. This can improve the efficacy and safety of drug treatments.
• Wearable devices: These materials can be used to create wearable devices, such as fitness trackers and biosensors. These devices can be used to monitor health and fitness levels, and to detect potential health problems early.

All these upcoming 3D Printing materials have the potential to revolutionize the way we manufacture products. These materials are expected to enable new applications, improve the performance of 3D printed products, and reduce the cost of 3D Printing. Researchers are also working on other material like metallic glasses, self healing materials and 4D Printing materials. In addition to these new materials, there are also a number of new 3D Printing technologies that are being developed. These technologies are expected to enable the 3D Printing of even more complex and sophisticated objects. In general, the future of 3D Printing is very bright, and the technology is expected to play an increasingly important role in the manufacturing of products in the years to come.