Marking System for Durable Labeling of Munitions

Hand grenades require highly legible, long-lived identification markings that are resistant to wear and field chemicals. Creating such markings on grenades is challenging, especially when their surfaces are rounded and made of chemically resistant plastics. Creare proposes to develop an additive marking process capable of producing robust color markings on curved plastic surfaces with high resolution and fast throughput. Our marking process is compatible with marking grenades and other munitions. In this Phase I project, we will set up a benchtop marking system and begin developing the additive marking materials and process. We will produce preliminary marked samples and evaluate the mark’s adhesion and short-term resistance to chemicals of concern. We will also develop a conceptual description of a future high-volume grenade marking process and production system. The results of this project will prove the feasibility of our color marking process for marking grenades and other small munitions at high production rates.