Systems and methods for producing materials suitable for additive manufacturing using a hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus

A method comprising:

• preparing a raw material including a mixture comprising a polymer and a functional material selected based on at least one of a structural property, and electrical property, a thermal property, and a color, wherein the functional material has a first average particle size in the raw material;
• heating a chamber of a cavitation machine to a first temperature selected to be greater than a melting temperature of the raw material;
• introducing a volume of the raw material into the chamber of the cavitation machine;
• applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to the raw material to produce a product material, wherein the functional material has a second average particle size, smaller than the first average particle size, in the product material;
• forming the product material into a desired shape by forcing the product material through an extruder, wherein the desired shape comprises a filament;
• and
• cooling the product material to a second temperature selected to be lower than the melting temperature of the product material.