Additive Manufacturing of Composite Materials for Use in Biomedical Applications

The life of human beings is moving at a breakneck pace, with a fast-moving life demanding the need for devices for use in biomedical applications, which attracts the interested researcher to work on ensuring novel breakthroughs. Processing of biomaterials is one of the key factors that will exert an influence on impacting the attributes of a biomaterial. Additive manufacturing is one of the promising routes by which layer-by-layer creation of parts takes place from a computer-aided design (CAD) file. Parts that cannot or are difficult to manufacture by other processing routes can be easily manufactured using the technique of additive manufacturing (AM). Parts, such as (i) stents, (ii) customized prosthetics, (iii) organs, and (iv) implants can be easily manufactured using the technique of additive manufacturing (AM). With noticeable advances in the domain specific to additive manufacturing, the biomedical field is being revolutionized, and viable solutions to difficult problems are being put forth with ease, and the resultant by-products offer a combination of acceptable to good properties. The key benefits of the technique of additive manufacturing (AM) are low cost, minimal material waste, and enhanced product reliability. This study explores recent developments in both alloys and composite materials processed by the techniques of additive manufacturing for selection and use in biomedical applications. This review provides a highlight of the different additive manufacturing techniques with specific reference to biomedical applications and additive manufacturing of titanium alloys, the Co-Cr alloy, the magnesium alloys and their composite counterparts. Multidisciplinary research will be required to meet and overcome any and all obstacles while concurrently fulfilling the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) in the years ahead.

Keywords: Additive manufacturing, Biomaterials, Binder jetting, mechanical properties, Co-Cr alloy, Composite material, Direct energy deposition (DED), LENS, Material extrusion (ME), Material jetting, Powder bed fusion (PBF), Sheet lamination, SLA, Vat polymerization, 3D printing