Multiple Materials

The unique aspect of the additive manufacturing (AM) technology is the ability to produce multi-material parts. Multiple types of materials may be used for the manufacture of a single part. Components with specially tailored functionally graded, heterogeneous, or porous structures and composite materials were some of the achievements of this method. A broad variety of materials, such as metals, plastics, and ceramics, have been used in various AM methods to produce multi-material goods in order to satisfy the existing requirements of the industry that would otherwise not have been met. All AM techniques have the potential to be applied to multiple materials in nature. In addition, a number of studies have been conducted to investigate the possibility of applying multi-material development to various AM methods. The process of making composite materials by AM can be carried out either during the material deposition process or through a fusion process in which the combination of various materials can be performed before or after AM as a previous or successive stage of the production of a component. Composite processes can be used to produce heterogeneous scaffolds and functionally graded materials

(FGMs). One of the features of AM processes is the development of customized gradient multi-phase or porous materials. As a result, different properties can be achieved within a single integrated component. In addition, when making a component with composite materials, the required properties of the included materials can be combined while compensating for some of their limitations.

Multi-Material and Composite Additive Manufacturing Methods

Various modifications of the AM and the combination thereof with other manufacturing methods for the production of multi-material or composite products are mentioned below. The subjects are mostly categorized as process adaptations for the implementation of multi-materials, different materials used in these processes, and AM hybrids and other manufacturing methods.