Explosiv3Design

3D-printing technology is booming and could revolutionize the design of high explosives.

March 8, 2016

3D printer makes cones of explosive materials

A 3D printer is the ideal tool to make these cones of explosive material with finely controlled internal microstructure.

Scientists are revolutionizing both the manufacturing process and the explosive materials themselves.

The performance of a high explosive depends largely on its microstructure, which has historically been difficult to control. Antiquated manufacturing methods can be unreliable and inefficient, so a new way of working with explosives is badly needed.

A multidisciplinary team of scientists at Los Alamos is using 3D printing to improve the safety and performance of high explosives by revolutionizing not just how they are manufactured, but what they are made of as well.