The currently growing demand for metallic and polymeric products has undoubtedly changed the rules of manufacturing, enabling customers to more functionally define their products based on their needs. Nowadays, a new technique for rapid tooling, Additive Manufacturing (AM), can create customized products with more complex geometries and short life cycles (flexibility) in order to keep up with the new variables imposed by the manufacturing environment. In the last two decades, the migration from subtractive manufacturing to AM has materialized such products with reduced costs and cycle times. AM has been recently promoted to develop polymer molds for product manufacturing. This paper reviews the main findings in the literature concerning polymer molds created by AM compared to conventional (metal) molds obtained by subtractive manufacturing. Information about specific topics is scarce or nonexistent, for example, about the characterization of the most commonly injected materials and molds used in this type of technology, their mechanical properties (part and mold), designs for all types of geometries, and costs. These aspects are addressed in this literature review, highlighting the advantages of this alternative manufacturing process, which is considered a desirable technology worldwide.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1646/pdf?version=1650502230

5 – Thermoplastic Processing

Analysis and Advances in Additive Manufacturing as a New Technology to Make Polymer Injection Molds for World-Class Production Systems

/pdf/development-of-fsw-for-composite-materials-3nbzwr9zru.pdf

Development of FSW for composite materials

The necessity to utilise environmentally friendly resources has emerged due to environmental management. With the demand for the production of plastics and wood materials, pollution has increased. Consequently, the attraction in natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFPCs) is rapidly emerging in the construction industry, mainly to replace synthetic fibre composites. The intensified interest is associated with manufacturing ‘green’ and lightweight panels. This review provides insight into the prospects and challenges related to the processing of wood waste-reinforced polymer composites. Using natural fibres, especially waste as raw material, is desirable for developing value-added products to mitigate environmental pollution. The current materials used for the wood-based composites are reviewed as disadvantages associated with wood plastic composites, such as low interfacial bonding. Efforts such as chemical treatment are outlined to wood fibres to manufacture an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, lightweight, and biodegradable composite with enhanced structural properties was provided. Various waste plastics, plant dust, and coupling agents-based composites investigated for applications, and emerging aspects of wood plastic composite for construction materials applications are outlined. 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19397038.2023.2214162?needAccess=true&role=button

5 – Thermoplastic Processing

Citations

Analysis and Advances in Additive Manufacturing as a New Technology to Make Polymer Injection Molds for World-Class Production Systems

Development of FSW for composite materials

A review on waste wood reinforced polymer composites and their processing for construction materials