Integrating Polymers, Materials and Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future

Additive manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, is a growing technology that promises to disrupt traditional manufacturing techniques, is projected to be a 1 trillion-dollar industry by 2030, and has spawned a large number of startup companies all over the country. The rapid development of 3D printing technology creates new demands and opportunities, especially in applications for aerospace, biomedicine, and soft robotics. As such, research efforts into AM have been highly interdisciplinary, requiring the efforts of digital design, multiscale simulations, manufacturing methods, materials synthesis, and performance engineering. AM offers incredible opportunities recently in the area of soft materials manufacturing for educators, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, designers, and artists using synthetic and natural materials such as thermoplastics, photo-curable resins, elastomers, organo- and hydrogels, and their composites. The next great leap for 3D printing will come from the development of new materials and methodology – a truly integrated, multiscale convergence to redefine the field. For this to occur, collaboration is paramount, and the first step is to bring the great minds at the interface of these key areas together.