Materials manufacturing processes: Feature and trends

Functionally gradient materials (FGM) are novel materials with varying ultimate qualities as a function of size. Traditional composite materials have recently undergone a development that keeps their strengths while eliminates their drawbacks. It could be created via shifting the chemical structure, microstructure, or design features through one end to another, according to the design needs. This technology helps FGM to get the best properties of material in the required quantities only where they are required. Regardless of fact that there are a variety of techniques for creating FGMs, additives-based metal accumulation (by laser, laser beams, plasma, etc.) technology has been received traction due to recent advancements. The development, present state, and drawbacks of functionally gradient materials are discussed in this paper. A variety of manufacturing procedures for various types of FGMs are also discussed. FGM applications in many domains, including aerospace, defense, mining, power, and tools manufacturing, are also examined in depth. Thin FGM and bulk FGM are the two main kinds of FGM. Thin FGMs are made up of very thin portions, such as surface coatings, whereas bulk FGMs are made up of the entire volume of materials. To make thin FGM, manufacturing technologies like as vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and self-propagate high temperature synthesis (SHS) are used. Whereas, bulk FGMs are made utilizing a variety of techniques, including powder metallurgy, centrifugal casting and strong freeform/additive fabrication methods.