Conclusion

Additive manufacturing of polymers has now established itself as a distinct set of material processing technologies, based on clearly identified physicochemical and thermomechanical principles. Based on digitally controlled layer-by-layer fabrication, it differs from conventional processes by eliminating the need for tooling, offering great geometric freedom, and allowing for fine-tuning to meet functional requirements, while remaining subject to specific constraints related to the nature of polymers and the shaping mechanisms involved.

The various processes studied—melt filament extrusion, photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, material jetting, and direct ink writing—cover a broad spectrum of processing conditions, ranging from thermal melting to cross-linking polymerization reactions. Each of these processes involves specific phenomena related to heat transfer,...