Development of 3D printing sustainable mortars based on a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

In construction, three-dimensional concrete printing technology is an innovative method that opens new design possibilities, reducing the construction time process. The incremental material deposition allows organic shapes without formwork, a mandatory constraint in preparatory phases of conventional complex concrete structures. Nowadays, in three-dimensional printing for construction industry, concrete is the most used material due to its workability, extrudability, and pumpability properties favorable for the printing conditions. Hence, this composition still has a poor sustainable efficiency due to the high levels of Portland Cement. In this research, a reduction of this material was studied and experimented searching for a mortar composition with better ecological footprint, with the objective of decreasing the CO2 emissions. A bibliometric analysis was made to study the constituents of a mortar for three-dimensional printing and respective dosage. The knowledge acquired in the analysis of the compositions contributed to the development of mortars with lower Portland Cement content. A mechanical extruder was used to check the extrusion capacity of the developed mortars, and the best compositions are presented.