3D printing of energetic material

Abstract

In the world of macro-scale energetics, the problems of cost effectiveness, scalability, and manufacturability are of prime importance. But with the advent of 3D printing, a solution for scalability is in reach. In this work, THV and GO are explored as candidate materials for printing. To avoid subjectivity, the materials have to pass a test of repeatability, control of geometry, and layer building. Moreover, a novel drop on demand 3D printing system was explored as the printing method. The overall goal is to take the material out of the lab room and into a scalable manufacturing technique. After initial testing, it was decided that THV is suitable for 3D printing while GO needs to be developed further to enable printability.