Development of Set-On-Demand Geopolymer Concrete for 3D printing

In concrete 3D printing (3DCP), high Portland cement content in the mix raises sustainability concerns, prompting the urgent need to replace Portland cement with eco-friendly alternatives like geopolymer. The contradictory requirements of the fresh concrete's properties during the pumping and building stages of 3DCP are alleviated using chemical admixtures. However, these admixtures are designed for Portland cement, restricting geopolymers' application in large-scale construction. This thesis develops a set-on-demand geopolymer concrete that has an open time of 24+ hours and static yield strength of 879 kPa at 60 min after printing which provides higher flexibility is printing than cementitious mixes with admixtures.