ReviewMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Recent Trends in Manufacturing of Thermoplastic Sandwich Structures: A Review.
Review in Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Lightweight thermoplastic sandwich structures have a potential in terms of high specific strength, recyclability, repairability, and reduced manufacturing costs and cycle times, thereby widening their applicability in the aviation industry. However, joining thermoplastic skins to the core is considered a critical process in determining the structural integrity of fully recyclable sandwich systems. Despite rapid technological progress, a comprehensive assessment of manufacturing routes capable of achieving reliable skin/core fusion bonding remains lacking. Therefore, this review critically examines manufacturing techniques for thermoplastic-based sandwich panels, with particular emphasis on advanced processes that achieve effective skin/core fusion bonding. Within conventional manufacturing routes, compression moulding and double-belt lamination have the potential for high-volume production and process automation. Skin/core fusion bonding via in situ core formation enhances manufacturing flexibility, particularly for achieving complex designs. Emerging approaches, including additive manufacturing, automated fibre placement, and welding-based methods, are identified as promising fusion-bonding strategies. This offers enhanced manufacturing simplicity and efficiency by minimising interlinked processing stages and eliminating the need for intricate mould patterns. Future advancements are expected to focus on highly integrated and scalable manufacturing routes capable of simultaneously achieving skin consolidation, in situ core formation, and skin/core fusion bonding within a single process. In particular, continuous welding-assisted manufacturing and additive manufacturing-based approaches are highlighted as promising pathways for improving structural integration, recyclability, and production efficiency in next-generation thermoplastic sandwich structures. Overall, this review provides a structured foundation to guide future research directions and support the development of more efficient, scalable, and structurally reliable thermoplastic sandwich manufacturing technologies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.