, Olga S. Ivanova
Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, United States
Received 3 October 2012; received in revised form 28 November 2012; accepted 6 December 2012
Available online 26 January 2013
KEYWORDS
Nanocomposites;
Nanomaterials;
Additive
manufacturing;
3D printing
Summary Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing) holds strong potential for the forma-
tion of a new class of multifunctional nanocomposites. With the ability to print complex 3D
objects layer by layer, additive manufacturing with nanomaterials could be leveraged in new
ways toward greater control over material properties across part dimensions. Multifunction-
ality through embedding of nanomaterials can further extend capabilities of nanocomposites
to properties such as gradients in thermal and electrical conductivity, photonic emissions tun-
able for wavelength, and increased strength and reduced weight. Here we discuss the promises
offered by nanomaterials-based additive manufacturing as a new paradigm for nanocomposite
functionality.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Nanocomposites attract researchers and industry because
of their potential combination of properties from both
the nanomaterials and the host materials matrix. The
allure of nanocomposites is the expectation of dramatic
improvements in properties in areas important to such var-
ied industries as aerospace, automotive, semiconductor,
plastics, and chemicals [1]. However, challenges remain
for nanocomposites production in several areas, includ-
ing processing, cost, consistency and reliability in volume
production, high lead time, and oxidative and thermal insta-
bility of nanomaterials [2]. New processing techniques with
an eye toward multifunctionality could offer advantages for
nanocomposites.
A research area paralleling the development of nanocom-
posites over recent decades is Additive Manufacturing (AM,