About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
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Symposium
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2025 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2025)
|
Presentation Title |
Innovative Pre-Treatment and Foam Extrusion System for Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing Applications |
Author(s) |
Andrea Lorenzo Henri Sergio Detry, Alfonso A Perez, Arjun Chandar, Pablo Arroyo, Anna Duncan |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Alfonso A Perez |
Abstract Scope |
Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) is increasingly recognized for fabricating lightweight, high-performance structural components. We present an integrated system combining pellet pre-treatment with in-line foam extrusion to produce large-scale foamed structures with tailored density profiles. A physical blowing agent (PBA) is introduced during pre-treatment, enhancing gas solubilization and nucleation control. Key innovations include the optimization of solubilization parameters (pressure, temperature, absorption time) and extrusion hardware design for large-format deposition. Mechanical characterization through flexural testing demonstrated high stiffness-to-weight ratios and tunable energy absorption. Parameter maps linking process settings to mechanical properties were generated to support predictive manufacturing. This approach enables sustainable, lightweight, recyclable structures for aerospace, marine, and civil engineering applications. Future developments will focus on coupling this process with computational design algorithms to exploit the design freedom enabled by graded foam architectures. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Post-meeting proceedings |