Russia develops lower cost plastics for 3D printing drones

[Chinese Packaging Network News] Scientists from Kabardino-Balkarian State University in Russia said that they have invented a new multifunctional polymer material that can be used for 3D printing of drones, prosthetics and robots. It is reported that changing the material production costs is low and can be used for a wide range of 3D printing applications.

Whatever your opinion of Vladimir Putin, it is hard to say that the Russian President does not take defense seriously.

In 2012, for example, the then President established the National Fund for Advanced Research Planning (FPI), which aims to promote scientific research that may benefit Russia's national security.

At the time of the establishment of the FPI, Dmitry Rogozin, Putin's deputy defense expert, said that the foundation will end the "20-year stagnation" of Russian military science. Although it may be too early to assess this goal, some of the research carried out by FPI-backed scientists seems to be far from stagnating.

Although military research is clearly the top priority for the FPI, the organization is also responsible for oversight of projects that are not clearly oriented toward national defense, such as the polymer experiment at Bardini-Balkarian State University in Nalchik.

High-grade plastics can of course be used for military applications, but they can also benefit from many other scientific fields. Chief laboratory researcher Svetlana Kashirova recently confirmed this fact and revealed some of the exciting developments in the laboratory, directly involving 3D printing.

According to Kashirova, the scientists in the lab have developed a new type of multifunctional polymer material that is easy to produce, easy to use, and can be used for 3D printing of drones, prostheses, and robots.

According to laboratory director, the new materials have been under development since 2014 and can provide users with some advantages, including shortening production time, reducing failure rate and providing high levels of purity.

"By using our materials in 3D printing, we can print prostheses based on the personal characteristics of a particular person," Kashirova commented on the new Russian 3D printed materials.

"It can also be used to print drones, powered exoskeletons, machine parts, complex components of robotic devices, and components of space suits."

Kashirova said that 3D printed materials also have a high level of biological inertia, making it suitable for medical applications.

The laboratory director added: "These materials are heat and freeze resistant. They can be used in environments with high temperatures and levels of radiation exposure. This is why the use of new materials is quite extensive for the aerospace industry, mechanical engineering, Oil and gas industry and others."

Although this level of detail is not enough to make us excited about changing the prospects of 3D printed materials, it is nice to know that a small part of Russia's defense resources are improving 3D printing.