The Woodruff School

SUMMARY

Additive manufacturing, or AM, is a rapidly developing technology that simplifies and
automates the production of intricate objects. Recently, AM methods have been implemented
in the domains of nuclear weapons and nuclear enrichment technologies. However,
there are presently limited international or domestic regulations for AM’s involvement in
the nuclear sector, leading to unregulated proliferation pathways. Existing export regulations
are broad in scope and do not account for the particular nuances of different AM
techniques. It is crucial to scrutinize and assess the nuclear applications of AM methods
to establish effective regulations and limitations for monitoring proliferation routes. This
project involves identifying and assessing 31 of the most commonly employed AM methods
based on their potential impact on the nuclear fuel cycle. Using this identification and
classification system, export controls can be directed at nuclear proliferation threats posed
by AM, without disrupting the entire industry and fuel cycle. Additionally, this comprehensive
approach to regulating and monitoring proliferation channels would expose gaps
in export regulations.

SUBJECT:	M.S. Thesis Presentation

BY:	Natalie Cannon

TIME:	Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

PLACE:	Boggs, 3-47

TITLE:	Categorization of Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Nuclear Nonproliferation Threat Analysis

COMMITTEE:	Prof. Steven Biegalski, Co-Chair (NRE) Prof. Anna Erickson, Co-Chair (NRE) Prof. Rachel Whitlark (INTA)

SUMMARY Additive manufacturing, or AM, is a rapidly developing technology that simplifies and automates the production of intricate objects. Recently, AM methods have been implemented in the domains of nuclear weapons and nuclear enrichment technologies. However, there are presently limited international or domestic regulations for AM’s involvement in the nuclear sector, leading to unregulated proliferation pathways. Existing export regulations are broad in scope and do not account for the particular nuances of different AM techniques. It is crucial to scrutinize and assess the nuclear applications of AM methods to establish effective regulations and limitations for monitoring proliferation routes. This project involves identifying and assessing 31 of the most commonly employed AM methods based on their potential impact on the nuclear fuel cycle. Using this identification and classification system, export controls can be directed at nuclear proliferation threats posed by AM, without disrupting the entire industry and fuel cycle. Additionally, this comprehensive approach to regulating and monitoring proliferation channels would expose gaps in export regulations.