TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Additive Manufacture Combined with Casting to Create Custom Energetic Components

Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to partner to further develop and license for commercialization its novel technology combining additively manufactured parts with an infill step for customizable and novel energetic systems. Background: The fine spatial control of material placement now possible with additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is enabling for both processing and controlling the properties and performance of energetic materials. Energetic materials, or simply energetics, are monomolecular materials or composite formulations which can exothermically react through chemical reactions. Some examples of energetic materials are propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, and reactive formulations such as intermetallic mixtures and thermite composites.There exists a need

to develop energetic components with optimized safety and performance for a variety of applications, as well as to reduce the cost of doing HE-driven experiments (e.g., producing a planar shock wave) to evaluate inert materials or other energetic materials.Description:  Livermore Lab researchers have developed a method that combines additive manufacturing (AM) with an infill step to render a final component which is energetic. In this case, AM is first used to print a part of the system, and this material can either be inert or energetic on its own.  A second material issubsequently added to the structure via a second technique such as casting, melt infiltration, a second AM step/process, or other deposition techniques. The result is a final energetic part with some desired safety and/or performance properties. Advantages:  There are several major advantages of this technique. First, this approach allows the strategic placement of one material (energetic, or not) into the final assembly. Such applications would be metallized explosives, where the HE/metal response can be tailored by the placement of the metal into a preformed scaffold. Second, by intentionally leaving out one component of the energetic system until desired, the part may be made safer to handle or secure from insult. Once the final material is infilled into the part, it behaves as intended. A third application is to use AM to print custom molds for explosives, which are then filled with a castable energetic to produce complex geometries such as plane wave generators. Post processing may be necessary to render the final part, depending on the application. Potential Applications:  -Metallized explosives with spatially-controlled placement of the metal-Controlling safety of energetic articles -Plane wave generators-Structural energetics-Safer handling/shipping of materials Development Status:  LLNL has filed for patent protection cover this technology:IL12904 - Combining Additively Manufactured Parts with an Infill Step for Customizable and Novel Energetic Systems (US Patent Application 20170225389)There are three foreign patents also pending. See attached file for summary quad chart.LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL’s Additive Manufacture Combined with Casting to Create Custom Energetic Components technology will need to have an active ITAR registration with the U. S. Department of State. Please provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:1.   Company Name and address.2.   The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.3.     A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.4.     Company ITAR registration expiration date.Written responses should be directed to:Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryInnovation and Partnerships OfficeP.O. Box 808, L-795Livermore, CA  94551-0808Attention:  FBO 401-18Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Additive Manufacture Combined with Casting to Create Custom Energetic Components technology.       Contact Information: Connie L Pitcock, Administration, Phone 925-422-1072, Fax 925-423-8988, Email pitcock1@llnl.gov Office Address :7000 East AvenueL-795 Livermore CA 94550 Location: Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization Set Aside: N/A