Table 3.

Summary of metals used in 3-D printing

Material	Technology	Functional/display purpose	Properties	Tensile strength (MPa)	Advantages	Disadvantages	Application	Reference
Stainless steel	FFF/FDM, BJ	Both	High resolution, corrosion resistant, flexible and strong	521–582	High wear resistance Good ductility and weldability Great hardness	Long printing time Expensive Limited printing size	Tools, gears, jewellery, miniatures, molds	[37, 42]
Aluminium	SLM, DMLS	Functional	Light, strong, heat resistant, and corrosion resistant	410–440	Outstanding mechanical and thermal properties Low density Great electrical conductivity	Low hardness	Spare parts, functional components	[58–60]
Titanium	SLM, DMLS	Both	High resolution, heat resistant, biocompatible, and highly durable	1000–1200	Corrosion resistance Low thermal expansion Biocompatible	Expensive	Biomedical implants and tooling, jewellery	[37, 42, 60]
Maraging steel	SLM	Functional	High strength, tough, and good weldability	~ 1135	High strength Good weldability High tensile strength	Expensive	Furnace parts, tooling, aerospace and racing parts	[61, 62]
Cobalt-chrome	SLM, DMLS	Functional	Corrosion and heat resistant, biocompatible, hard wearing, strong, and low conductivity	1050–1450	Wear and corrosion resistance Great hardness Biocompatible High tensile strength Scratch resistance	Difficult to cut	Engine parts, furnace parts, implants	[59, 61]
Tungsten	SLM	Functional	High tensile strength and corrosion resistant	1725	High temperature resistance Chemical resistance Wear resistance Hard and stiff	May break when enough pressure is applied	Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), thermal applications in aerospace, radiation shielding applications in medical	[58, 63, 64]
Nickel	DMLS	Functional	High tensile strength, oxidation and corrosion resistant	1115	Heat resistance up to 1200 °C Can be used in extreme environment Hard and ductile Excellent mechanical properties	May result in dermatitis when sensitized	Gas turbines in aerospace, racing parts, aviation parts	[38, 59, 65]