From its humble beginnings in the late 1980s, through to the global force that it is today, the capabilities of 3D printing technology has been dependent on the range of compatible materials available with the different printing processes. The range of materials has continued to diversify in this time, with key 3D printer equipment manufacturers devoting significant resources to bringing new materials to market. This portfolio of compatible materials has continued to expand as end users demand higher quality products, greater choice and flexibility, and in the case of prototyping, materials that are more representative the final products appearance and behaviour. With end users spanning multiple industry verticals, there is a continuing drive to expand this list. The growth potential for 3D printing materials differs significantly from printing equipment, as legacy printers which are still operational continue to consume materials. Therefore, this segment of the 3D printing value chain represents tremendous potential growth opportunity over the next decade: IDTechEx forecasts that the global market for 3D printing materials will be worth $16 billion by the year 2028.