Project Info

Radiation Damage Effects in 3-D Printed Plastics

There is an increasing interest in the use of additive manufacturing techniques for the in-space production of structures. Many regions of space have much higher radiation fields than on Earth, so physical changes as a result of long-term exposure to ionizing radiation will be much more significant. The project will produce some of the first detailed results on how quickly 3-D printed plastics are damaged by radiation fields, and then apply that to better design of in-space structures.

More Information

“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_In_Space,_Inc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archinaut
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/4412528“

Grand Engineering Challenge: Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Student Preparation

Qualifications

Ability to design parts in CAD and produce parts using a Filament Deposition Manufacturing (FDM) printer, varying parameters and settings to modify part properties. Basic shop skills and the ability to design/manufacture aluminum structures using 80/20 extrusion. Conduct basic research beyond the use of Google searches.

Time Commitment

20-40 hours/month

Skills/Techniques Gained

Relationship between material properties and part performance. Mechanical testing techniques. An introduction to ionizing radiation and radiation effects.

Mentoring Plan

Weekly meetings, supplemented by hands-on instructional sessions. Work supervised by a graduate student in my group.