Innovative Materials & Processes for Additive Manufacturing

Materials.
Processes.
Innovation.

From materials to real-world applications.

+LAB develops advanced polymeric, composite and ceramic materials together with innovative additive manufacturing processes, connecting material formulation, process development and functional applications.

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Material jetting additive manufacturing process

Our Lab Units

Three complementary units integrating material development, advanced equipment and multi-material consolidation.

MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT

From raw materials to printable formulations.

FeedstockLiquid & solid

Synthesis, formulation and characterisation of polymeric, composite and ceramic materials tailored for additive manufacturing.

Overview of material development additive manufacturing technologies

Key AM Technologies

Vat
Photopolymerization SLA | DLP | LCD

Material
Extrusion FDM | FFF | FGF

Material
Deposition MJ | DIW | LIFT

Polymers, composites and ceramics
Resins, inks, filaments, granules and pastes
Processability and material–process relationships

MATERIAL & EQUIPMENT UNIT

From process development to industrial implementation.

FeedstockLiquid & paste

Development and optimisation of additive manufacturing processes using high-tech equipment and industrial settings.

Industrial material deposition equipment

KEY AM TECHNOLOGIES

Material Jetting MJ | process development ·
industrial setting

Direct Ink Writing DIW | scale-up ·
industrial setting

Process–structure–property relationships
Parameter optimisation and quality control
From experimental development to industrial equipment

MULTI-MATERIAL CONSOLIDATION UNIT

From complementary feedstocks to functional components.

FeedstockLiquid & powder

Powder-based additive manufacturing, multi-material consolidation and dedicated post-processing for functional components.

Overview of multi-material consolidation and post-processing

Key AM & Post-Processing Technologies

Powder Bed
Fusion SLS | HSS

Multi-Material
Consolidation Fluid+Powder

Post-Processing
Processes Coating+Functionalisation

Polymeric and ceramic powders
Complex and multi-material architectures
Surface engineering, finishing and functionalisation

From Material to Impact

An integrated workflow connecting material design, feedstock development, AM processing and final validation.

01 MaterialSynthesis &
Formulation

02 FeedstockDevelopment &
Characterisation

03 AMProcess Development &
Optimisation

04 Post-ProcessingCoating &
Functionalisation

05 ComponentValidation &
Application

⌬Material
Design

⚙Processability

◇Manufacturing

≋Functionalisation

◎Impact

Enabling Competences

Cross-disciplinary expertise connecting material science, process development and industrial implementation.

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Advanced CharacterisationStructural, physico-chemical, rheological, thermal, optical, electrical and mechanical.

AI & Data-Driven ManufacturingMaterials discovery, process optimisation and data-driven control.

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Surface EngineeringFunctional coatings, surface treatments and performance enhancement.

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Sustainability & CircularityRecyclability, life-cycle thinking and Safe & Sustainable by Design.

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Design & SimulationApplication-driven design, modelling and process understanding.

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Industrialisation & Scale-upFrom laboratory development to pre-industrial implementation.

Shared & Complementary Facilities

Extending +LAB capabilities through other Politecnico di Milano facilities for fabrication, characterisation and testing.

PoliFab

2PP · AJP · micro/nanofabrication and electronics.

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ChIPLab

Chemical laboratory and physico-chemical material characterisation.

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Leonardo Lab

Mechanical testing and material/component evaluation.

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LaBS

Biofabrication, biomaterials and biological characterisation.

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Main Application Areas

From advanced materials to real-world applications across strategic sectors such as biomedical & medtech, electronics & wearables, apparel & footwear and green industry.