Recent advancements in the additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing industrial fabrication technology. It provides engineers with a growing library of advanced materials, ranging from thermoplastics to metals and cement-based composites, enabling the production of complex shapes with precisely tailored geometry and mechanical performance. AM is a computer-aided process in which digital data is used to build physical objects by continuously depositing material, distinguishing it from conventional manufacturing methods that rely on material removal. AM development for fiber-reinforced polymeric (AM-FRP) composites is a focus of current engineering research interest. This literature review covers results from over 260 recent scientific papers, organized by material selection, reinforcement scale and type, manufacturing processes, mechanical performance, and sustainability considerations, highlighting the growing need to synthesize current knowledge on additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites for engineering applications. Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as 3D printing, is one of the mainstream processes of such AM. The literature review identifies suitable materials for ensuring the sustainable production of high-performance polymeric composites reinforced with short and continuous fibers. The manuscript examines the potential application of recycled and biodegradable materials in the development of AM technology, discusses the achievable mechanical characteristics of FDM components, and highlights future development trends in AM-FRP composites.