3D Printing of Wood Composites: State of the Art and Opportunities

Abstract

With the production of wood waste constantly on the increase, questions relating to its recycling and reuse are becoming unavoidable. The reuse of wood and its derivatives can be achieved through the production of composite materials, using wood as a reinforcement or even as the main matrix of the material. Additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) is an emerging and very promising process, particularly with the use of bio-based and renewable materials such as wood or its industrial derivatives. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of additive manufacturing processes using wood as a raw material and including industrial solutions. After presenting wood and its waste products, all the additive manufacturing processes using wood or its industrial derivatives will be presented. Finally, for each 3D printing process, this review will consider the current state of research, the industrial solutions that may exist, as well as the main challenges and issues that still need to be overcome.