Considered a major contributor to global carbon emissions, the manufacture of concrete could potentially be improved, the researchers suggest, via 3D-printed eco-friendly construction. Yet, developing a material that is both printable and strong enough is challenging.

Source: University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science

As such, the team set out to determine if CNF could potentially overcome these challenges if incorporated into 3D-printable concrete.

Once extracted from wood pulp and added to concrete, the team determined that the CNF increased the flowability of the concrete, which subsequently allowed for smoother printing. Meanwhile, the CNF also increased concrete strength and durability, thereby resulting in structures that can reportedly last.

Further, after rigorous testing, the CNF-enhanced concrete performed exceptionally well under stress and demonstrated impressive strength under pulling, bending and compression loads, thus making it a promising material for the construction of resilient structures.

Additionally, the team, which experimented with assorted CNF concentrations, determined that a minimum of 0.3% CNF significantly enhanced the 3D-printed cement’s flowability. What this means is that a well-flowed concrete mix helps to expel air bubbles from the concrete, which prevents the formation of voids that weaken a structure, for instance.