Advancements in 3D Printing of Self‐Healing Polymer Systems

ABSTRACT Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has exploded in popularity as it enables the fabrication of complex geometries with minimal waste. As this technology matures, there is an increasing demand for 3D printing of advanced materials that can respond and adapt to their environment. Of particular interest are self‐healing materials that can recover their desirable properties even after being damaged to extend the working life of the printed part. This review highlights the recent advances in 3D printing self‐healing polymer systems by emphasizing the interplay between the self‐healing mechanism and the 3D printing process. A particular focus is placed on printability requirements for the most popular 3D printing techniques and various strategies that researchers have pursued to print advanced materials. Successful 3D printing of microcapsule‐based polymer systems is then highlighted as a low‐cost method to introduce self‐healing into 3D printed parts. Outstanding challenges in 3D printing of self‐healing materials are then discussed, with future research directions proposed to help expand the 3D printability of self‐healing polymers.