Additive Manufacturing of Epoxy Resins: Materials, Methods, and Latest Trends

Epoxy resins are widely used in various applications including electronic materials, automobiles, adhesives and coatings, and fiber-reinforced composites because of their unique properties. Additive manufacturing has advantages over conventional manufacturing techniques: simplicity of printing complex structures, fast production, and freedom of design. It follows the footprint of digitalization and the 4.0 industry. Additive manufacturing of epoxy resin is the latest trend, which replaces conventional materials and methods in different fields because of the ability to manufacture complex geometries quickly and at low cost. This review pays attention to pristine and latest advances in additive manufacturing of epoxy resins and presents the historical origins and evolution of each related printing technique. The main technical aspects, including the curing of epoxy resins, suitable types of resins, the role of curing agents, photoinitiators, and properties of epoxy parts, are discussed in detail. The survey on representative latest trends is presented.