Abstract:Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, has revolutionized industrial production, offering unprecedented freedom and complexity in processing various materials. Copper alloys, notable for their excellent electrical and thermal conductivity as well as corrosion resistance, play a pivotal role in sectors like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and heat exchange systems. This review aimed to explore the application and significance of copper alloys in the AM domain, summarizing their fundamental properties and their synergy with AM technologies, and delve into the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of copper and its alloys, and assess key AM techniques such as selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), laser metal deposition (LMD), and directed energy deposition (DED), with a focus on the unique requirements and challenges of copper alloy AM processes, including case studies. The specific applications of copper alloys in AM and examples from various industries were discussed. The review also analyzed factors affecting the quality of copper alloy AM, such as material characteristics, process parameters, and equipment features, and considered performance optimization through post-processing techniques. Finally, the challenges in the copper alloy AM field and predict future technological trends were summarized, providing a reference framework for future research and industrial applications in this area.