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Multimaterial additive manufacturing is an attractive way of producing parts with improved functional properties by combining materials with different properties within a single part. Pure Ti provides a high ductility and an improved corrosion resistance, while the Ti64 alloy has a higher strength. The combination of these alloys within a single part using additive manufacturing can be used to produce advanced multimaterial components. This work explores the multimaterial Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) of Ti/Ti64 graded material. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti/Ti64-graded samples fabricated by L-PBF with different geometries of the graded zones, as well as different effects of heat treatment and hot isostatic pressing on the microstructure of the bimetallic Ti/Ti64 samples, were investigated. The transition zone microstructure has a distinct character and does not undergo significant changes during heat treatment and hot isostatic pressing. The tensile tests of Ti/Ti64 samples showed that when the Ti64 zones were located along the sample, the ratio of cross-sections has a greater influence on the mechanical properties than their shape and location. The presented results of the investigation of the graded Ti/Ti64 samples allow tailoring properties for the possible applications of multimaterial parts.

International audience; The present work deals with the 3D printing of multimaterials based on PLA/PMMA multilayers directly obtained from pellets. This polymer pair was chosen for their miscibility at the melt state and synergistic properties (i.e., to improve and weather tune the temperature resistance, transparency and thermomechanical properties of their PLA-based materials). Thus, 3D-printed parts with repeating PMMA/PLA/PMMA layers in the Z building direction were successfully prepared in different numbers but maintaining the same composition. The main objective was to better understand the interface/interphase properties developed during this innovative processing. First, further physicochemical and dynamic thermomechanical characterizations were performed. Second, the effects of multi-extrusion 3D printing processing parameters on the thermal stability of PLA, PMMA and their printed specimens were analyzed by GPC. Then, the structuralrheological and mechanical properties of the multilayered systems were investigated in comparison to their equivalent blend. The effects of flow kinematics during extrusion as well as printing chamber temperature (PCT) and infill density (ID) were specifically studied and rationalized. The triggered interfaces were characterized by SEM and subjected to flexural and short-beam three-point bending experiments that proved their dramatic influence on the final mechanical properties. The ultimate aim of this study is to enable successful control of the interfaces/interphases obtained in these 3D-printed PLA/PMMA systems in comparison to other forming processes.

Multimaterial 3D printing in electronics is expanding due to the ability to realize geometrically complex systems with simplified processes compared with conventional printed circuit board. Herein, the feasibility of using a copper‐based filament to realize 3D circuits with planar and vertical interconnections is presented. The resistivity of the tracks (1–3 mm wide) is studied with reference to printing parameters and orientation. Using lateral infill for 1 mm tracks offers lower resistance compared with longitudinal infill (≈75%). For wider tracks, the effect of infill orientation on resistance diminishes. The evaluation of tracks embedded in polylactic acid shows a drop in maximum current (to ≈11 mA) compared with exposed tracks (≈16 mA). There is no observed correlation between electrical performance and number of embedding layers. However, a significant correlation is observed between the tracks’ resistance and the amount of time the filament remains in the heated nozzle. This in‐depth study leads to optimum resolution to realize conductive tracks of 0.67 mm thickness and the first integration of fused deposition modeling (FDM)‐printed conductive traces with small‐outline integrated circuits to open a pathway for higher‐density 3D printed circuits. Finally, the transmission of digital data by a 3D printed circuit is demonstrated.

3D printing with a high degree of spatial and compositional precision could open new avenues to the design and fabrication of structural and functional composites. In article number 1800730, Jia Ming Zhang, Xin Yi, and co‐workers report a multimaterial 3D printing system for fabricating textured structural composites with liquid inclusions of programmable spatial distribution and compositions by combining direct ink writing and microfluidics.

Herein, the development of complex 3D intelligent structures such as robotic hands using innovative designs and multimaterial additive manufacturing technology is presented. The distal phalanges of the 3D printed hand presented herein have inherent soft capacitive touch or pressure sensors and embedded electronics. Materials such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silver paint, conductive polylactic acid composite, graphite ink, etc. are explored to develop five different variants of the sensors using a modified 3D printer, which is capable of extruding conductive ink, metal paste, and polymers. The best‐performing 3D printed soft capacitive touch sensors, formed with silver paint and soft rubber (Ecoflex 00‐30), are integrated on the distal phalanges of the 3D printed robotic hand. These sensors exhibit a stable response with sensitivity of 0.00348 kPa−1 for pressure [less than] 10 kPa and 0.00134 kPa−1 for higher pressure. To demonstrate the practical applicability, the 3D printed hand with embedded soft capacitive touch sensors is used for interacting with everyday objects. The tightly integrated sensing elements within the 3D printed structures, as presented herein, can pave the way for a new generation of truly smart material systems that can possibly change their appearance and shape autonomously.

3D printing with a high degree of spatial and compositional precision could open new avenues to the design and fabrication of functional composites. By combining the direct ink writing and microfluidics, a multimaterial 3D printing system for fabricating textured composites with liquid inclusions of programmable spatial distribution and compositions is reported here. Phase diagrams for the rational selection of desired printing parameters are determined through a combination of simple theoretical analysis and experimental studies. 1D, 2D, and 3D structures programmed with desired inclusion patterns and compositions are fabricated. Moreover, the versatility of this 3D printing framework in fabricating layered composite beams of tunable thermal property and self‐healing materials is demonstrated. The proposed multimaterial microfluidic 3D printing framework could be broadly applicable for structural composites and soft robotic devices.