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Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Materials

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National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Additive Manufacturing (AM) studies various materials to advance additive manufacturing, including advanced materials such as biomaterials, composites, and metamaterials. 

Biomaterials

NIST AM studies a variety of biomaterials, from 3D printed medicines to custom prosthetics. Learn more.

A model skull with additively manufactured facial prosthetics lining the jaw, chin, and cheek bone areas. The skull is held up for the camera.
NIST studies advanced materials for additive manufacturing, such as biomaterials, like the prosthetics pictured above. 
Credit: Adobe Stock

 

Metamaterials

We study metamaterials, synthetic materials that behave differently than naturally occurring materials, for additive manufacturing. Learn more.

A schematic shows an opaque sheet with a ring-shaped opening layered over the left side of the metamaterial flat lens. Ultraviolet light shines from the left side of the metamaterial, through the ring-shaped opening, to the other side of the lens, where it's projected as a 3D ring of light.
A NIST team created an ultraviolet (UV) metamaterial formed of alternating nanolayers of silver (green) and titanium dioxide (blue). When illuminated with UV light (purple) a sample object of any shape placed on the flat slab of metamaterial is projected as a 3D image in free space on the other side of the slab. Pictured above, a ring-shaped opening in an opaque sheet on the left of the slab is replicated in light on the right.
Credit: Lezec/NIST

Composites

Our NIST AM team studies composites for applications to additive manufacturing. Learn more.

a machine 3d printing a single-family home built out of concrete
We study composites for additive manufacturing, such as building materials, like the 3D printed building pictured above. 
Credit: Adobe Stock

 

Bioscience, Manufacturing, Additive manufacturing, Materials, Metrology and Standards

Contacts

Additive Manufacturing Program Coordinator

Created November 12, 2024, Updated January 22, 2025