Chapter 1 - Introduction

Abstract

The concept of metamaterials originates from the proposal of left-handed materials with negative refractive index, which was followed by varieties of metamaterials with unusual properties that cannot be found in natural materials, such as zero/negative Poisson's ratio, and electromagnetic/acoustic/thermal cloaking effect. According to their application fields, metamaterials are roughly classified into four categories: mechanical metamaterials, acoustic metamaterials, thermal metamaterials, and biological and microlattice metamaterials. By designing structures and arranging the distribution of materials with different physical parameters, the function of metamaterials can be realized in theory. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology provides a more direct and efficient way to achieve a sample of metamaterial and experiment verification, due to the significant advantages in fabricating complex structures. This chapter introduces typical metamaterials in different application situations and describes their design methods. Particular focus is placed on the fabrication of metamaterials and the application status of AM technology in them.