Energetic thermoplastic filaments for additive manufacturing and methods for their fabrication
AssigneeCapco, LLC
InventorsTheodore Ronald Spence, Christopher Floyd Williams
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Abstract
An energetic thermoplastic filament comprising an energetic material bound within a thermoplastic matrix and methods for the fabrication of an energetic thermoplastic filament are disclosed. The energetic material comprises an energetic material selected from an explosive, a propellant, a pyrotechnic, an oxidizer, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic comprises a TPE, ETPE, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic filaments may be formed by extrusion. The energetic thermoplastic filaments are particularly suitable for additive manufacturing by thermal FDM style 3D printing systems.
Claims21
A method for the fabrication of an energetic thermoplastic filament, comprising the steps of:
- providing an energetic thermoplastic composition to an extruder, the energetic thermoplastic composition comprising an energetic material and a thermoplastic elastomer;
- extruding the energetic thermoplastic composition through an orifice of a heated nozzle to form an extrudate;
- and
- reducing the temperature of the extrudate to immobilize the energetic material within a thermoplastic matrix and form the energetic thermoplastic filament.
An energetic thermoplastic filament comprising an energetic material and a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the energetic material is bound and immobilized homogeneously within a thermoplastic elastomer matrix.
21-33. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.