Date

4-2018

Project Type

URC Presentation

College or School

CEPS

Class Year

Junior

Department

Physics

Major

Physics

Faculty Research Advisor

Elena Long

Abstract

In recent years, 3-D printers have become invaluable tools in physics laboratories because they allow for rapid prototyping and the development of parts with complex geometries that can be difficult or impossible to machine. However, 3-D printing is still a new technology, and many of its applications have yet to be explored.

This work is part of an ongoing project to 3-D print with the fluoroplastics PCTFE and FEP. These materials are ideal for many applications that require cryogenic cooling and high levels of radiation—applications for which “traditional” 3-D printing materials are not well-suited.

I have developed a method for preparing these fluoroplastics for 3-D printing. Milestones include designing a device that processes the plastics into the small pellets used to create 3-D printer filament and creating 3-D printable FEP filament. Future work will focus on adapting these procedures for PCTFE and producing the first 3-D prints with fluoroplastics.

Once this technology has been refined, it will be used to manufacture PCTFE components for use in the UNH Nuclear Physics Group’s Tensor Polarization Project.

Download

Share

COinS