Additively manufactured metallic TPMS lattice structures: design strategies, fabrication, multifunctional properties, and applications

The utilization of the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) has emerged as a highly effective approach for designing lattice structures due to its smooth surfaces, intricately connected lattice structures, and precisely controlled geometric properties. However, the full potential of metallic TPMS lattice structures remains underexplored due to three primary challenges: (i) the computational complexity involved in multi-scale design optimization, (ii) manufacturing limitations in achieving defect-free lattice architectures, and (iii) an incomplete understanding of the process-structure-property relationships necessary for multifunctional applications. To address this gap, a comprehensive analysis encompassing design, manufacturing, properties, and applications is essential. This paper presents such a study of metallic TPMS lattice structures. First, we introduce geometric design methods for generating digital TPMS models tailored to specific requirements. Building on this, we summarize additive manufacturing techniques employed in fabricating these structures, highlighting how additive manufacturing mitigates structural design constraints and enables high-quality, accurate fabrication. Subsequently, we elaborate on the diverse properties and multidisciplinary applications of additively manufactured metallic TPMS lattice structures. Finally, by synthesizing recent advancements in this field, we discuss existing limitations and offer perspectives on future research directions.