Design News released an article this week on the top five
material trends of 2011. There were some interesting
observations presented in the article that we wanted to share
with our followers. “The five most important materials trends of
this past year enable volume manufacturing. They are concerned
mostly with new alternative materials or processes. Volume may
start out small, but the material or processes will likely spur
high growth. The five areas the article looked at were additive
manufacturing (AM), plastics, composites, metals, and recycling.
Several trends concern automotive manufacturing. Here, new
materials and processes must not only meet regulations and cost
objectives, but also must fit smoothly and easily into highly
automated manufacturing processes without compromising them or
slowing them down.” - Additive manufacturing: The most important
development was the big burst of new materials. - Plastics:
Aside from these medical-grade plastics, the most significant
plastics breakthrough this year