Tribological aspects and their drivers in 3D-printed cermets and hardmetals

3D printing or Additive manufacturing (AM) offers unique advantages for wear-critical components and cutting tools, including design freedom, material efficiency, and the ability to fabricate complex, functionally graded geometries (with incorporated cooling channels) with a desired surface roughness tailored for specific tribological demands. These benefits make AM an attractive route for producing high-performance cermets and hardmetals. However, the adoption of AM for these materials remains limited due to intrinsic challenges such as high melting point disparities, phase segregation, and residual stress formation, etc. These issues directly compromise densification, microstructural control, and ultimately, wear resistance. This review critically examines the wear performance of AM-processed cermets and hardmetals, focusing on how process parameters such as energy density, substrate preheating, powder morphology, and post-processing govern wear mechanisms and material degradation. By consolidating experimental insights and process–structure–property relationships, we identify key advancements, current limitations, and research gaps. The study provides a framework for optimizing AM strategies to enhance wear resistance, guiding future development of cermet-based components for advanced tribological applications.