Recycling of metal/polymer waste as a feedstock material via additive manufacturing technology

Additive manufacturing (AM) has become one of the most revolutionary technologies in the manufacturing sector. AM technology is playing a vital role in Industry 4.0 because of its distinct advantages over conventional manufacturing, such as the ability to manufacture complex shapes with high efficiency, reduced lead time, waste minimization, fast prototyping, and in-house production. With the advancement in the field of AM technology, the size and cost of the printing machines are reduced; hence these techniques are becoming popular in various sectors like automobiles, aerospace, lab prototyping model, architectural models, printing electronics, and construction industry. Despite the recent research and developments in AM technology, there is still demand for improvements in feedstock materials and methods to match with the traditional manufacturing technologies for mass production. Manufacturing industrial waste, such as metal scrap and packing materials, is one of the biggest challenges for efficient production and environmental protection. Thus, the recycling of industrial waste as potential feedstock material for AM technology to produce useful products is highly desirable. This chapter provides an overview of the recycling and utilization of metallic and polymer waste as feedstock materials via AM technology.