ASTM Gets Funding for Additive Manufacturing Sustainability

ASTM International has been awarded funding from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering's Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&E)) through an America Makes project call announced in June 2024 by America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). The project call is worth $2.1 million in funding. 

ASTM will lead research on the sustainability and environmental benefits of additive manufacturing (AM).

The project will focus on developing methodologies for reutilizing and recycling AM materials while ensuring sustainable design strategies that meet the quality and performance standards for end users. 

With this initiative, ASTM aims to deepen industry understanding of AM sustainability by assessing the environmental impact of various materials and processes. The project will explore strategies for material recovery, lifecycle assessments, and frameworks that help manufacturers to implement eco-friendly practices without compromising part performance or reliability. ASTM leads a team that also includes The Boeing Company, ADDMAN, Amaero Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, and the Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association, LLC. 

The research will build on ASTM’s expertise in AM standards, qualification, certification, and sustainability, ensuring that the findings contribute to industry-wide best practices and regulatory guidelines.

“We are pleased to lead this important project with America Makes,” says Mohsen Seifi, ASTM International’s vice president of Global Advanced Manufacturing. “Our focus will be on developing methodologies that eventually promote the sustainable use of materials in additive manufacturing, ensuring both environmental benefits and high-quality outcomes for end users.” 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.