Printing on Polymers: Fundamentals and Applications is the first authoritative reference covering the most important developments in the field of printing on polymers, their composites, nanocomposites, and gels. The book examines the current state-of-the-art and new challenges in the formulation of inks, surface activation of polymer surfaces, and various methods of printing. The book equips engineers and materials scientists with the tools required to select the correct method, assess the quality of the result, reduce costs, and keep up-to-date with regulations and environmental concerns. Choosing the correct way of decorating a particular polymer is an important part of the production process. Although printing on polymeric substrates can have desired positive effects, there can be problems associated with various decorating techniques. Physical, chemical, and thermal interactions can cause problems, such as cracking, peeling, or dulling. Safety, environmental sustainability, and cost are also significant factors which need to be considered. With contributions from leading researchers from industry, academia, and private research institutions, this book serves as a one-stop reference for this field—from print ink manufacture to polymer surface modification and characterization; and from printing methods to applications and end-of-life issues. - Enables engineers to select the correct decoration method for each material and application, assess print quality, and reduce costs - Increases familiarity with the terminology, tests, processes, techniques, and regulations of printing on plastic, which reduces the risk of adverse reactions, such as cracking, peeling, or dulling of the print - Addresses the issues of environmental impact and cost when printing on polymeric substrates - Features contributions from leading researchers from industry, academia, and private research institutions

Polymers for 3D Printing: Methods, Properties, and Characteristics provides a detailed guide to polymers for 3D printing, bridging the gap between research and practice, and enabling engineers, technicians and designers to utilise and implement this technology for their products or applications. Presents the properties, attributes, and potential applications of the polymeric materials used in 3D printing Analyses and compares the available methods for 3D printing, with an emphasis on the latest cutting-edge technologies Enables the reader to select and implement the correct 3D printing technology, according to polymer properties or product requirements

3D and 4D Printing of Polymer Nanocomposite Materials: Processing, Applications, and Challenges covers advanced 3D and 4D printing processes and the latest developments in novel polymer-based printing materials, thus enabling the reader to understand and benefit from the advantages of this groundbreaking technology. The book presents processes, materials selection, and printability issues, along with sections on the preparation of polymer composite materials for 3D and 4D printing. Across the book, advanced printing techniques are covered and discussed thoroughly, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), inkjet 3D printing (3DP), stereolithography (SLA), and 3D plotting. Finally, major applications areas are discussed, including electronic, aerospace, construction and biomedical applications, with detailed information on the design, fabrication and processing methods required in each case. Provides a thorough, clear understanding of polymer preparation techniques and 3D and 4D printing processes, with a view to specific applications Examines synthesis, formation methodology, the dispersion of fillers, characterization, properties, and performance of polymer nanocomposites Explores the possibilities of 4D printing, covering the usage of stimuli responsive hydrogels and shape memory polymers

3D industrial printing has become mainstream in manufacturing. This unique book is the first to focus on polymers as the printing material. The scientific literature with respect to 3D printing is collated in this monograph. The book opens with a chapter on foundational issues such and presents a broad overview of 3D printing procedures and the materials used therein. In particular, the methods of 3d printing are discussed and the polymers and composites used for 3d printing are detailed. The book details the main fields of applications areas which include electric and magnetic uses, medical applications, and pharmaceutical applications. Electric and magnetic uses include electronic materials, actuators, piezoelectric materials, antennas, batteries and fuel cells. Medical applications are organ manufacturing, bone repair materials, drug-eluting coronary stents, and dental applications. The pharmaceutical applications are composite tablets, transdermal drug delivery, and patient-specific liquid capsules. A special chapter deals with the growing aircraft and automotive uses for 3D printing, such as with manufacturing of aircraft parts and aircraft cabins. In the field of cars, 3D printing is gaining importance for automotive parts (brake components, drives), for the fabrication of automotive repair systems, and even 3D printed vehicles.

From droplet formation to final applications, this practical book presents the subject in a comprehensive and clear form, using only content derived from the latest published results. Starting at the very beginning, the topic of fluid mechanics is explained, allowing for a suitable regime for printing inks to subsequently be selected. There then follows a discussion on different print-head types and how to form droplets, covering the behavior of droplets in flight and upon impact with the substrate, as well as the droplet's wetting and drying behavior at the substrate. Commonly observed effects, such as the coffee ring effect, are included as well as printing in the third dimension. The book concludes with a look at what the future holds. As a unique feature, worked examples both at the practical and simulation level, as well as case studies are included. As a result, students and engineers in R&D will come to fully understand the complete process of inkjet printing.

This book aims to give readers a basic understanding of commonly used additive manufacturing techniques as well as the tools to fully utilise the strengths of additive manufacturing through the modelling and design phase all the way through to post processing. Guidelines for 3D-printed biomedical implants are also provided. Current biomedical applications of 3D printing are discussed, including indirect applications in the rapid manufacture of prototype tooling and direct applications in the orthopaedics, cardiovascular, drug delivery, ear-nose-throat, and tissue engineering fields. Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing: Biomedical Applications is an ideal resource for students, researchers, and those working in industry seeking to better understand the medical applications of additive manufacturing.

Reactive inkjet printing uses an inkjet printer to dispense one or more reactants onto a substrate to generate a physical or chemical reaction to form a product in situ. Thus, unlike traditional inkjet printing, the printed film chemistry differs to that of the initial ink droplets. The appeal of reactive inkjet printing as a chemical synthesis tool is linked to its ability to produce droplets whose size is both controllable and predictable, which means that the individual droplets can be thought of as building blocks where droplets can be added to the substrate in a high precision format to give good control and predictability over the chemical reaction. The book starts by introducing the concept of using reactive inkjet printing as a building block for making materials. Aspects such as the behaviour of printed droplets on substrate and their mixing is discussed in the first chapters. The following chapters then discuss different applications of the technique in areas including additive manufacturing and silk production, production of materials used in solar cells, printed electronics, dentistry and tissue engineering. Edited by two leading experts, Reactive Inkjet Printing: A Chemical Synthesis Tool provides a comprehensive overview of this technique and its use in fabricating functional materials for health and energy applications. The book will appeal to advanced level students in materials science.

Polymers for 3D Printing: Methods, Properties, and Characteristics provides a detailed guide to polymers for 3D printing, bridging the gap between research and practice, and enabling engineers, technicians and designers to utilise and implement this technology for their products or applications. - Presents the properties, attributes, and potential applications of the polymeric materials used in 3D printing - Analyses and compares the available methods for 3D printing, with an emphasis on the latest cutting-edge technologies - Enables the reader to select and implement the correct 3D printing technology, according to polymer properties or product requirements

This book covers polymer 3D printing through basics of technique and its implementation. It begins with the discussion on fundamentals of new-age printing, know-how of technology, methodology of printing, and product design perspectives. It includes aspects of CAD along with uses of Slicer software, image analysis software and MATLAB® programming in 3D printing of polymers. It covers choice of polymers for printing subject to their structure–property relationship, troubleshooting during printing, and possible uses of waste plastics and other waste materials. Key Features Explores polymeric material printing and design. Provides information on the potential for the transformation and manufacturing, reuse and recycling of polymeric material. Includes comparison of 3D printing and injection moulding. Discusses CAD design and pertinent scaling-up process related to polymers. Offers basic strategies for improvement and troubleshooting of 3D printing. This book is aimed at professionals and graduate students in polymer and mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering.

Conducting polymers are smart materials that possess unique and tuneable electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties. 3D printing technology is rapidly advancing, and using conducting polymers for this process can lead to many emerging applications as it can print complex structures cost effectively, though many challenges need to be overcome before this technology can be used on a large scale. 3D Printed Conducting Polymers highlights the state of the art of these materials, the basics of additive printing, and the role of conducting polymers in additive manufacturing. It also discusses applications in energy, sensors, and biomedical areas. Covers fundamentals, synthesis, and various applications of conducting polymers. Discusses basics of energy devices, sensors, and materials technology for emerging applications. Explores new approaches for the synthesis of conducting polymers and composites for 3D print technology. Details future applications and challenges. Offering direction to researchers and advanced students to better understand the chemistry and electrochemical properties of conducting polymers and technologies for 3D printing, this book advances the science and technology of this emerging field for readers in materials and chemical engineering, biotechnology, energy, and related disciplines.