Will test for the ISS photopolymeric 3D - printing of keramomatrichny parts

2020: Approbation photopolymeric 3D - printing of keramomatrichny parts

On September 28, 2020 it became known, that on October 2, 2020 one more 3D-printer, this time a space stereolithographic additive system of development of Made in Space company will go to the International Space Station. The equipment will be used in experiments on 3D - printings of procurements of turbine gloss from keramomatrichny composition materials.

As it was explained, till October, 2020 application technologies of additive manufacturing in space was limited to operation of 3D-printers on technology of layer-by-layer fusing of polymeric bars (FDM) and bioprinters for experiments on 3D - printing living cells. For October, 2020 the International Space Station is equipped with the FDM system of the second generation Additive Manufacturing Facility, devices for processing of plastic waste of Refabricator and Braskem Recycler and also two bioprinters — the developed the American companies Techshot and nScrypt a system BioFabrication Facility and the magnetic bioprinter "Body.Avt" behind authorship the Russian of laboratory 3D Bioprinting Solutions. This system under the name Ceramic Manufacturing Module (CMM) relies already upon technology of a laser stereolithograph — 3D - printings the liquid photopolymeric pitches cured by the laser radiator.

The experiment has a specific purpose: developers intend to test additive manufacturing of keramomatrichny products on the example of turbine gloss — monolithic wheels with blades. As supplies photopolymeric pitches with adding of ceramic precursors will be used. As explains Made in Space, in a case with parts for turbines, nuclear power stations or internal combustion engines increase in strength characteristics even for one-two percent can provide the gain of lives measured for years if not decades. Besides, keramomatrichny composites can be operated at temperatures at hundreds degrees above, than hot strength alloys.

Interests researchers how positive will be an influence of a microgravity: 3D - printing similar materials on Earth is complicated by gradual drop-out of filler in a deposit, in zero gravity it will be possible to achieve more uniform distribution of filler. Annealing and agglomeration of procurements in finished products will be made already on Earth.

The Californian companies HRL Laboratories and Sierra Turbines with assistance of the Space center NASA of Lyndon Johnson take part in a study program. With development of the additive equipment and tests of a system in the conditions of an artificial microgravity during flights on a parabolic trajectory the manufacturing company of stereolithographic B9Creations 3D-printers helped.

As the CEO of Sierra Turbines Roger Smith explains, his company considers two possible directions of use of this technology. The first — production of parts for spacecrafts with the increased resistance to influence of vysokoenergetichny particles and atomic oxygen. The second — production of parts for application on Earth, for example high-temperature turbine blades.

Products from keramomatrichny composites are capable to maintain operational temperature over 1100 °C that can help with increase in fuel economy and efficiency of aviation engines in general. Experiments on production of procurements of keramomatrichny parts in the conditions of zero gravity can help to implement additional bonuses in the form of decrease in weight and residual stresses and also increase in a threshold of mechanical fatigue.

Start of the carrier rocket Antares and the Cygnus freighter with the additive equipment is onboard planned for October 2, 2020 from^[1].

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