FDM—3D PRINTING OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES WITH HIGH ENERGETIC SOLIDS CONTENT DESIGNED FOR GUN PROPELLANTS

Abstract

This study represents a significant advancement in the additive manufacturing of energetic materials, focusing on the 3D printing of gun propellants using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. The primary goal of the study was to optimize the formulation, improve performance, and find a balance between printability and propellant effectiveness. Three different energetic formulations were tested as feedstock for FDM 3D printing, with only two proving suitable for the technique. The formulation consisting of 70% RDX, 10% NC, and 20% polycaprolactone (PCL) emerged as the most successful, offering excellent processability, ease of printing, and superior energetic performance. This formulation stands out as the most promising for the production of gun propellants through FDM 3D printing. The article is included in Defense Technology special issue "VSI: 34th International Symp Ballistics"