Oregon State University and Sandia Labs have received a $540,000 grant from the US Department of Energy to explore whether it would be possible to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial emissions before trapping its mineralised form in 3D printed construction materials.
Professor Pavan Akula, Assistant Professor of civil engineering at the OSU College of Engineering, leads a team composed of researchers from Sandia, the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, and two industrial partners, Graymont, and Verdant Building Alternatives.
He said, “In recent years, 3D printing technology has been gaining popularity in building construction as it is a more sustainable alternative – it reduces both waste and transport costs. However, most 3D printing of concrete still relies on traditional materials that are really carbon intensive.”
The project aims to capture the CO2, which is emitted by the lime and cement industries and develop sustainable binders that can store and mineralise the CO2 captured in printed building components such as walls. He said, “Our project aims to develop technologies and materials that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of materials used in 3D printing.”
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