Towards In-Space Additive Manufacturing of Thermosets and Embedded Fibers, Year 1

It is proposed to overcome current deficiencies in ISAM by developing thermal-curing thermosets with embedded fibers, and to move this new technology toward commercial feasibility. The work involves exploring benefits of low-gravity for innovative control of liquid spreading during extrusion, and quantifying the proper conditions for embedding composite fibers in the thermosets. The proposed effort includes these technical tasks: (i) Develop analytical simulations of the proposed ISAM methodology. (ii) Extrude droplets, puddles, and linear beads of thermal-curing thermosets on heated surfaces, and compare to simulations. (iii) Use calibrated models to predict performance in varied-gravity environments. (iv) Embed composite fibers into extruded thermosets using a modified 3D printer.