Material Anisotropy in Additively Manufactured Polymers and Polymer Composites: A Review

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a sustainable and innovative manufacturing technology to fabricate products with specific properties and complex shapes for additive manufacturable materials including polymers, steels, titanium, copper, ceramics, composites, etc. This technology can well facilitate consumer needs on products with complex geometry and shape, high strength and lightweight. It is sustainable with having a layer-by-layer manufacturing process contrary to the traditional material removal technology—subtractive manufacturing. However, there are still challenges on the AM technologies, which created barriers for their further applications in engineering fields. For example, materials properties including mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of the additively manufactured products are greatly affected by using different ways of AM methods and it was found as the material anisotropy phenomenon. In this study, a detailed literature review is conducted to investigate research work conducted on the material anisotropy phenomenon of additively manufactured materials. Based on research findings on material anisotropy phenomenon reported in the literature, this review paper aims to understand the nature of this phenomenon, address main factors and parameters influencing its severity on thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of 3D printed parts, and also, explore potential methods to minimise or mitigate this unwanted anisotropy. The outcomes of this study would be able to shed a light on improving additive manufacturing technologies and material properties of additively manufactured materials.