In 3DS you should only have to specify which surfaces you want to have a different material, you can make or use all your materials in UE4 if you want (what I normally do).
I’m a Modo user so I don’t know your exact workflow but from a google search it looks like “Multi/-Sub-Object Materials” might be what you’re after:
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In 3DS just assign whichever surfaces you want to have different materials (you don’t have to actually make the material) and then when you import your mesh you will see multiple ‘slots’ for you to drop in different materials in the details panel for your mesh.