im just dudeposting. materials themselves are an odd one for the dod. ironically enough, for some manufacturing processes and specific material systems, the actual manufacturing capability to make some of these "super materials" isnt there. theres various steels that the government likes to use that are huge pains in the ass to make (see eglin steel plus variants) and are difficult to process (machining, castability, heat treatment). the real innovations in materials in the dod realm is process based, not chemistry based. you can have your wonder material all you want, but by damned your gonna have a hard time making it and doing shit with it. again, 3d printing has unlocked a ton of doors that previously weren't possible. for example, one can print incredibly complex topology optimized structures in a plastic and then procede to use that same part as a casting blank for investment casting. once direct metal printing gets more funding/recognition, thats when shit will start looking truly alien. the only reason it really hasn't been adopted yet is because theres too many fudds in decision making positions that think that am is just a fad and that precise 2d drawings are always the best and most efficient option.  take the am pill boys.
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