The Boeing Company
PROCESSABLE POLYMER, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURE

Abstract:

A process for additive manufacture of an article comprises conveying a material through a heated nozzle to form a flowing mass of the material. The material comprises a polymer matrix including a plurality of polymeric chains and an alignment additive dispersible within the polymer matrix. The alignment additive is configured to align the plurality of polymeric chains in a flow direction of the flowing mass of the material. The process further comprises aligning at least a portion of the polymeric chains, via the alignment additive, along a direction of flow through the heated nozzle, releasing the flowing mass of the material from the heated nozzle, and allowing the material to solidify.