Properties and printability evaluation of three-dimensional printing magnesium oxychloride cement by fully utilizing aeolian sand

Abstract

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is increasingly being applied in harsh environments and isolated regions. However, the effective utilization of aeolian sand (AS) resources and by-products derived from arid zones for 3DCP is yet to be fully realized. This study developed a three-dimensional (3D) printing composite using AS and magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) from local materials. The effects of the mole ratio of MgO/MgCl₂ and sand/binder (S/B) ratio on the mechanical properties such as water resistance, drying shrinkage strain, rheology, and printability, were investigated systematically. The results indicated that the optimal mole ratio of MgO/MgCl₂ was 8, which yielded the desired mechanical performance and water resistance. Furthermore, the S/B ratio can be increased to three within the desired printability to increase the AS utilization rate. The rheological recovery and buildability of the 3D-printed MOC with AS were verified. These findings provide a promising strategy for construction in remote deserts.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

3DCP / AS / magnesium oxychloride cement / mechanical behavior / drying shrinkage / rheological property

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52178198, 52208239, and U20A20313), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei (Nos. E2022202203, E2021202039, and E2022202041), and the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (Nos. 20JCYBJC00710 and 22JCQNJC00240).

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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