Authors:

Angus Moore

Date Created:

Not specified

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Professor:

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About Paper:

Ever-growing urbanization has increased the demand for resilient concrete structures around the globe. However, concrete's main binder, Portland cement, is responsible for 8% of the global carbon emissions, which puts the construction industry in dire need of a more environmentally sustainable alternative. Reactive magnesia cement (RMC) is one possible alternative binder but requires carbonation to achieve required mechanical strength. Since atmospheric carbonation is an external process, cast RMC concrete cannot achieve viable strength. 3D printing offers some remedy by increasing the exposed surface area increasing carbon intake. This investigation introduces secondary agents via superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) to maximize hydration and carbonation. The compressive strength of cubes with differing curing durations and filament width-to-depth ratios were investigated with mixtures containing SAPs, others without. Four samples of each group with a .7, .85, or 1 width-to-depth ratio. Specimens sit for a 20-28-hour period before entering carbon incubation for 3, 7, 14, or 28 days. Additional samples with an intermediatory 1-day moist curing were introduced for 7 days, as well as samples with a day of drying at 230 degrees Fahrenheit prior to 7-day incubation. Current results have shown greater compressive strength for mixes containing SAPs with filaments of w/d = .7 to their non-SAP counterparts. Further testing is on-going to explore the effects of printing paths as well as investigating the microstructure.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Angus Moore