NSF Award
2218830
The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a post-processing method to dramatically improve properties, including a flexible geometry and inexpensive low-volume production. Additive manufacturing opens revolutionary opportunities for fabricating complex geometries and lowering the cost of low-volume production. However, the impact has been restrained by the low toughness/ductility of AM polymer parts. This project is expected to substantially expand the impact of the existing AM manufacturing base for polymers. The geometric flexibility of low volume AM will enable new customized products. This can allow new opportunities such as increased customization of medical device components to individual patients. It will also be especially value in lowering the costs of maintaining out-of-production equipment and reduce supply chain challenges in distant locations.<br/><br/>This I-Corps project is based on the development of a method to post-process parts from existing commercial processes to achieve dramatic property enhancements. The post-processing polymer powder bed fusion components increase ductility, isotropy, and toughness. The technology is applicable to all commercial products or polymer powder bed fusion and is expected to apply to a wide range of polymer materials. The system has been demonstrated in the lab to achieve significant property improvements. This project would identify the potential customers for this capability and quantify the value that it would add for customers. Additionally, the project will explore the different business models available for commercializing the technology to assess the most feasible commercialization paths for transitioning this ability from the lab to production.<br/><br/>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.
