I-Corps Teams: Energy efficient 3D printing of thermoset polymer and composites for field operations

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是开发一种在石油/天然气、可再生能源、航空航天、国防和医疗保健等各种应用中具有巨大潜力的3D打印技术。特别是，使用这种3D打印技术制造的易于使用的部件对于支持现场操作的机动设备至关重要。这一应用适用于位于能源输入有限的偏远前哨的商业现场作业。该项目将推进热固性聚合物和复合材料的3D打印技术，并为开发更节能，高速率和最终用户友好的先进制造技术提供见解，最终通过节省能源和减少大规模生产的设计/制造周期来造福社会。该I-Corps项目基于热固性聚合物和复合材料的高速率和节能3D打印技术的开发，该技术允许为现场操作和极端条件制造易于使用的产品。提出的创新是一种仅使用热或光引发的基于原位聚合的新增材制造方法。传统3D打印技术的主要问题，如高能耗，负面环境影响和低生产率将得到解决。它结合了材料科学/工程，机械工程，计算机科学和网络系统的前沿研究。 使用热固性聚合物及其复合材料，印刷产品的设计，以证明提高温度和形状稳定性，可忽略不计的环境影响。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project will be the development of a 3D printing technology that has great potential in diverse applications, including oil/gas, renewable energy, aerospace, defense, and healthcare. In particular, readily usable parts fabricated using this 3D printing technology may be vital in supporting motorized equipment for field operations. This application holds true for commercial field operations that are situated in remote outposts with limited energy input. This project will advance 3D printing technology of thermoset polymer and composites and provide insights on developing more energy efficient, high-rate and end-user friendly advanced manufacturing techniques, ultimately benefiting society by saving energy and reducing design/fabrication cycles in mass production. This I-Corps project is based on the development of technology for a high-rate and energy-efficient 3D printing technology for thermoset polymer and composites that allows for fabrication of readily usable products for on-site operations and extreme conditions. The proposed innovation is an in-situ polymerization-based new additive manufacturing method using only heat or light initiation. The major concerns for conventional 3D printing technology such as high-energy consumption, negative environmental impact, and low production rate will be addressed. It combines the cutting-edge research in materials science/engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and cyber systems. Using the thermoset polymers and their composites, the as-printed products are designed to demonstrate improved temperature and shape stability with negligible environmental impact.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.