3D printing geopolymers: A review

Geopolymers have been considered as a promising alternative to cementitious materials for 3D printing to enhance sustainability of the construction industry. This paper presents a critical review of the state-of-the-art of 3D printing geopolymers from the perspectives of production process, printability requirement, mix design, early-age material properties and sustainability, with a special focus on the effects of different factors such as matrix composition, reinforcement type, curing regime and printing configuration on the fresh and hardened properties of 3D printed geopolymers. The relationship between key fresh properties and printability of geopolymers is discussed, based on which the potential optimal mix proportions are obtained, containing the blended precursors of fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag and silica fume, liquid or solid activator, river sand with a maximum size of 2 mm, thixotropic additives (e.g., nano clay), and retarder (e.g., sucrose). This paper aims to summarise the recent advances in the development of 3D printing techniques suitable for geopolymers and geopolymers feasible for 3D printing, and to identify the knowledge gap, remaining challenges, and opportunities for future research.