It is clear that there are many materials available for AM, but in the larger world of engineered materials used in final applications, only a few dozen materials are regularly deployed for long-use AM components. While the availability of high-quality filaments poses a barrier to bringing new thermoplastic materials into AM, the use of pellet extrusion AM is highly desirable as this feedstock is widely used in the plastics…

This gap provides a tremendous opportunity for innovation in customizing material feedstocks for AM as well as exploring AM processes to bring new materials into the AM space. Polymers, metals, ceramics, and many different types of composite materials are being pursued for commercial deployment in AM and research is continuing at the intersection of AM processes and materials.

use of pellet extrusion AM — highly desirable as this feedstock is widely used in the plastics…. few dozen materials — regularly deployed for long-use AM components.

Be able to describe the relationships between polymer properties, feedstocks, AM processing, AM post-processing, and the resultant AM part; describe the range of engineered metallic materials available for AM; describe the means of preparing and processing those materials for use in AM applications.