Strategy to shape, on a half-meter scale, a geopolymer composite structure by additive manufacturing

J Archez,S Maitenaz,L Demont,M Charrier,R Mesnil,N Texier-Mandoki,X Bourbon,S Rossignol,J.F Caron

doi:10.1016/j.oceram.2021.100071

Abstract

This work aims at proposing a strategy for 3D-printing geopolymer composite structures at a half-meter scale, without using organic additives. An original printing device based on cartridges is developed and adapted to a 6-axis robot. The yield stress, working time and apparent Young modulus of the extruded material are measured. A devoted software, procedure and printing path are set up, leading to the fabrication of a structure without height limitation, without major geometrical defects or instabilities. The working time ensures the consolidation of the material during printing and good adhesion between layers. As an example, four successive cartridges have been successfully used to elaborate a hollow cylinder (Φ = 35 cm, H = 45 cm).

Highlights

This study is part of the Cigéo project led by the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra) for long-term management of the high and intermediate-level radioactive waste in deep-geological medium
3 Laboratoire Navier, UMR 8205, Ecole des Ponts, CNRS, UPE, Champs-sur-Marne, France *Corresponding author: sylvie.rossignol@unilim.fr, tel.: 33 5 87 50 25 64 Abstract This work aims at proposing a strategy for 3D-printing geopolymer composite structures at a half-meter scale, without using organic additives
An original printing device based on cartridges is developed and adapted to a 6-axis robot

Summary

Introduction

This study is part of the Cigéo project led by the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra) for long-term management of the high and intermediate-level radioactive waste in deep-geological medium. Andra is looking for alternatives materials to metallic tunnel liners. These liners (rigid tubes Φ = 70 cm, L = 100 cm) bear the geological mechanical stresses. 3D printed geopolymer composites without organic additives are investigated here and different suitable formulations were previously proposed in [1, 2], including wollastonite and glass fibers. Printing of geopolymers has already been done at a small scale (mm) using organic additives [4] and at a larger scale (cm), with alkali-activated materials [5, 6] and organic additives (microalgae) [7]. The hardening process of geopolymer is different from cement pastes, and the shaping process had to be adapted

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