Applications of additive manufacturing (AM) in sustainable energy generation and battle against COVID-19 pandemic: The knowledge evolution of 3D printing. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yanen; Ahmed, Ammar; Azam, Ali; Bing, Du; Shan, Zhang; Zhang, Zutao; Tariq, Muhammad Kashif; Sultana, Jakiya; Mushtaq, Ray Tahir; Mehboob, Asad; Xiaohu, Chen; Rehman, Mudassar
• Is Part Of: Journal of manufacturing systems. Volume 60(2021)
• Page Start: 709
• Page End: 733
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: 3D printing -- Sustainability -- COVID-19 -- Pandemic -- Research frontiers; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Production engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Robots, Industrial -- Periodicals; Production, Technique de la -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Robots industriels -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 670.42
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2021.07.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-6125

Abstract

Highlights: The applications of 3DP in sustainable energy generation systems were briefly summarized. The role of AM in providing emergency supplies against COVID-19 was discussed. A bibliometric analyses of 3DP research was conducted in CiteSpace. The latest research frontiers and knowledge structure of 3DP were identified. Future challenges incurred by 3DP industry were highlighted. Abstract: Sustainable and cleaner manufacturing systems have found broad applications in industrial processes, especially aerospace, automotive and power generation. Conventional manufacturing methods are highly unsustainable regarding carbon emissions, energy consumption, material wastage, costly shipment and complex supply management. Besides, during global COVID-19 pandemic, advanced fabrication and management strategies were extremely required to fulfill the shortfall of basic and medical emergency supplies. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) reduces global energy consumption and CO2 emissions related to industrial manufacturing. Various renewable energy harvesting mechanisms utilizing solar, wind, tidal and human potential have been fabricated through additive manufacturing. 3D printing aided the manufacturing companies in combating the deficiencies of medical healthcare devices for patients and professionals globally. In this regard, 3D printed medical face shields, respiratory masks, personal protective equipment, PLA-based recyclable air filtration masks, additively manufactured ideal tissue models and new information technology (IT) based rapid manufacturing are some significant contributions of 3DP. Furthermore, a bibliometric study of 3D printing research was conducted in CiteSpace. The most influential keywords and latest research frontiers were found and the 3DP knowledge was categorized into 10 diverse research themes. The potential challenges incurred by AM industry during the pandemic were categorized in terms of design, safety, manufacturing, certification and legal issues. Significantly, this study highlights the versatile role of 3DP in battle against COVID-19 pandemic and provides up-to-date research frontiers, leading the readers to focus on the current hurdles encountered by AM industry, henceforth conduct further investigations to enhance 3DP technology.