The THREAD Project will be featured at the ATD3 Workshop 2026 through a contribution from Carlo Zanardi, PhD student at Politecnico di Milano. Carlo will present the paper “T4D – Mechanical and Energetic Characterization of DLP Printed Thermite”, showcasing recent research activities carried out within the framework of the THREAD Project.

The work investigates the use of Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing to consolidate thermite into robust energetic components for Thermite-for-Demise (T4D) applications. The study includes a comprehensive characterization of the material, focusing on its mechanical properties, energetic behavior, and operational safety. The results highlight the potential of additive manufacturing technologies to enable innovative energetic materials and components for future spacecraft end-of-life solutions, supporting the development of more sustainable approaches to space debris mitigation.