Polyimide (PI) has been known as one of the special engineering plastics with outstanding comprehensive properties
and widely used in important technical fields such as aerospace
automobile manufacturing
microelectronics
etc
.
which however
due to the insolubility and infusibility
has serious issue in processing and molding
especially in the manufacturing of objects with high structure complexity. However
the emergence of "structure and performance control" 3D printing technology (also known as "additive manufacturing") uses digital model files as the basis to construct complex objects by layer-by-layer printing
which provides a new technological path for the development and application of smart manufacturing PI. In this paper
the research progress and development trend of 3D printing of PI are reviewed. The research progress of 3D printing thermoplastic PI and thermosetting PI based on melt molding
3D printing photosensitive PI based on stereolithography and 3D printing PI based on extrusion is especially highlighted.