Dübendorf ZH/Zurich/Seewen SZ – Researchers from Switzerland are working with European partners on the development of concrete elements that can be produced using 3D printers. The material used is virtually cement-free and can store carbon dioxide as it hardens.
(CONNECT) Researchers from the Structural Engineering Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are working on the development of concrete elements that are produced using a 3D printer. The construction elements are stable and virtually cement-free without traditional steel reinforcement, according to a press release. The material is designed to store carbon dioxide as it hardens.
The research work is part of the European CARBCOMN project (Carbon-negative compression dominant structures for decarbonized and de-constructable concrete buildings). In addition to Empa, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and the Empa spin-off re-fer from Seewen and other European partners are involved in the development.
The material for 3D printing comes from recycled industrial waste, such as steel slag. A special process is used to produce geometrically optimized moulds. Iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA) from re-fer are used as reinforcements. To harden this concrete, carbon dioxide is injected into a combustion chamber, which combines chemically with the concrete mix. "We combine unique expertise here - 3D printing, structural performance and our specialty: iron-based shape memory alloys," Empa researcher Moslem Shahverdi is quoted as saying in the press release. "On the one hand, we use digital production methods to build in a resource-saving way. Secondly, we are replacing conventional cement with binders with a lower CO2 footprint." The concrete parts are also designed in such a way that they can be dismantled after use and reused elsewhere.
Launched in 2024, the four-year project is funded by Horizon Europe and brings together eleven leading research institutions and architecture firms from across Europe. According to the press release, this also includes the University of Ghent, the Technical University of Darmstadt, the Greek University of Patras as well as Zaha Hadid Architects from London, Mario Cucinella Architects from Bologna and the companies Tesis from Penta di Fisciano in Italy, orbix from Genk and incremental 3D from Innsbruck. ce/ww
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