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References: Materials Science for Additive Manufacturing

  1. Polylactic acid - Wikipedia - In-depth coverage of PLA including molecular structure, mechanical properties, glass transition temperature, biodegradability, and 3D printing characteristics.

  2. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene - Wikipedia - Detailed article on ABS polymer chemistry, copolymer structure, mechanical and thermal properties, and its widespread use in engineering applications.

  3. Thermoplastic - Wikipedia - Explains the polymer science fundamentals underlying all FDM filaments: glass transition, melt behavior, crystallinity, and the reversible softening that makes thermoplastics printable.

  4. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (10th ed.) — William D. Callister Jr. and David G. Rethwisch — Wiley — Standard materials science textbook covering polymer chemistry, mechanical properties, thermal analysis, and stress-strain behavior foundational to filament selection.

  5. Polymer Science and Technology (3rd ed.) — Joel R. Fried — Pearson — Advanced coverage of thermoplastic and photopolymer chemistry, ideal for understanding the material science behind both FDM filaments and UV-curable resins.

  6. 3D printer filament comparison guide - MatterHackers - Comprehensive filament guide covering PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, nylon, polycarbonate, and composites with print temperatures, bed adhesion, and recommended use cases.

  7. PLA material guide - Prusa Knowledge Base - Practitioner's PLA guide covering optimal print temperatures, bed preparation, retraction settings, material limitations, and storage recommendations.

  8. How to succeed when printing with ABS - MatterHackers - Practical guide to printing ABS including enclosure requirements, temperature management, adhesion strategies, and warping prevention techniques.

  9. What is FDM 3D printing? - Hubs (Protolabs Network) - Covers FDM material options with property comparisons and matching guidance to help students select materials appropriate for specified functional requirements.

  10. Selecting the right 3D printing process - Hubs (Protolabs Network) - Process and material selection framework showing how mechanical property requirements, operating environment, and cost drive material and process choices across AM.