Designing 3D printable cementitious materials with gel-forming polymers

Abstract This work explores the use of hydrogel-forming polymers as printing aids for cement-based pastes. The principal results suggest an inverse relationship between gel and paste rheology and printability. The preferred gel is mechanically stiff, while the preferred printing paste is malleable and retains shape. The results, which include printability indexes (PI), mix formulation factors, and rheological measurements, form a framework for selection of gel-based printing aids and can be used as a basis for quality control of three-dimensional (3D) printed objects. Such gel-forming polymers may reduce the need for more complex admixture packages as printing aids.