iCAT 2026 PLENARY SPEAKERS

We have also invited certain notable guests to share their expertise in the field of 3D printing and its future applications.

Dietmar Drummer

Institute of Polymer Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Variothermal Powder Bed Fusion of Functionalized Materials in Medical Applications

Laser-based additive manufacturing processes have long been established in a variety of industrial applications due to their intrinsic geometric freedom and scalability. In recent years, the previous quasi-isothermal paradigm in polymer powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/P), which relies on the intermediate suppression of crystallization processes at temperatures near the melting point, has evolved into one option alongside the variothermal PBF of semi-crystalline polymers. Variothermal processes rely on significantly reduced build chamber temperatures and focus on the intermediate separation of crystallization-induced shrinkage and the macroscopic part geometry. Based on exposure strategy adaptations, we enable the cold processability on industrially available machinery through the implementation of discretized exposure strategies.

Based on this new paradigm for PBF, we demonstrate the applicability of cold processes for the processing of hybrid, biomimetic cartilage surrogates based on polyolefins and embedded, thermo-degradable hydrogels for implant applications, which allow for the generation of nonlinear, strain-stiffening properties under compression. Complementarily, the processing of hydroxyapatite-filled polyether ether ketone (PEEK-HA) at room temperature allows for the improved integration of bioactive composites in increased fractions despite pronounced nucleating effects. In particular, we observe a considerable suitability of variothermal PBF-LB/P for the additive manufacturing of modified, filled composites that are inherently restricted in quasi-isothermal processes. In particular, variothermal processes overcome limitations due to nucleating effects and the thermal degradability of embedded hydrogel precursors, qualifying cold PBF for the processing of functionalized thermoplastics from polyolefins to PAEKs.

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