The Recycler
  • Katun web banner December 2022 NEW
  • Biuromax Masthead web banner March 2024
  • G&G Masthead August 2024
  • Ambiente 2025 Masthead

Inkjet printers used for explosives

January 18, 2018

Inkjet-printed nanothermite. (Picture: Jared Pike, Purdue University)

Research at a US university has shown how inkjet printing can aid the creation of tiny explosives.

A team of researchers at Purdue University, Indiana, have developed a way to print small quantities of explosives using an inkjet printer, reports The Register. The tiny explosions could have many practical, everyday uses, such as being deployed to set off car airbags in the event of a crash.

The group of scientists successfully used additive manufacturing to blend and print so-called ‘energetic materials’ (such as propellants, pyrotechnics and explosives) using inkjet technology. The material is created from inert suspensions of copper and aluminium – which reduces the chances of spontaneous explosion; the aluminium provides the fuel, and the copper oxide, the oxidiser.

“We can have a fuel and an oxidiser in two separate suspensions, which are largely inert,” explained Professor Jeff Rhoads. “Then, with this custom inkjet printer, we can deposit the two in a specific overlapping pattern, combining them on a substrate to form nanothermite” – nanothermite being one such ‘energetic material’.

Rhoads went on to say that the hardest part of the development was retaining the right mix of ingredients, whilst dealing with picolitres – tiny quantities of material, equivalent to a thousand cubic micrometres. However, the use of an inkjet printer for the template provided accuracy to within 0.1 millionths of a metre.

Other members of the research team working on the project included Alison Murray, George Chiu, Emre Gunduz, and Steve Son.

 

Categories : Around the Industry

Tags : Indiana Inkjet Printing New Technology Research

  • Apex September 2024 Web ad
  • Cartridge Web Nov Web Banner
  • TN Group Oct 2024 Web ad
  • Static Control June 2022 Big & Bold Ad
  • Biuromax web banner July 2024
  • Ink Tank No Web advert
  • G&G web advert October 2024
  • GM Technology October 2024
  • IR Italiana Web ad January 2021
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • Mito Web banner June 2024
  • ITP Web ad January 2021
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • ITP Web ad January 2021
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • Mito Web banner June 2024
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • Zhono Web ad March 2024
  • denner UK Web Banner Jul 2024
  • CET Web ad December 2023
  • HYB Web banner Jan 2024
  • ITP Web ad January 2021
  • PCL Nov Web advert
  • Denner Feb 2024 Web Ad
  • Mito Web banner June 2024

The Recycler, Wittas House, Two Rivers, Station Lane, Witney, OX28 4BH, United Kingdom | Tel: +44 (0) 1993 899800 | Fax : +44 (0) 1993 226899
©2006-2023 The Recycler - Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy including cookie use

Web design Dorset | Websites by Mark