Seawater-Based Biocarbonate Cement/Sodium Alginate Composite for 3D Concrete Printing

Principal Investigator: Professor Ye QIAN (Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering from Department of Civil Engineering)

This project is showcased in the fourth exhibition – Innovation for Impacts.

About the scholar

Professor Ye QIAN

Research interests:

    • Construction-scale 3D concrete printing
    • Concrete rheology & smart processing
    • Cement-based systems modified with nanomaterials

Email: yjqian@hku.hk
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/3dp-hku

Project information

In this project, we extracted urease from soybean powder using seawater and combined it with a seawater-based cementation solution to develop a seawater-based biocarbonate cement. We investigated the influence of soybean powder content on urease activity and biocarbonate cement yield. Furthermore, we determined the effect of varying sodium alginate concentrations on printability after mixing with the biocarbonate cement slurry and established the optimal sodium alginate content. We also examined the Shore hardness of the biocarbonate cement and sodium alginate composite at different setting times and identified a method to increase the biocarbonate cement yield per unit volume

Novelty

  • Development of seawater-based biocarbonate cement using a unique combination of seawater-based cementation solution and soybean powder supernatant.
  • Preparation of a seawater-based biocarbonate cement/sodium alginate composite with a focus on its printability.
  • Enhancement of biocarbonate cement yield per unit volume at varying concentrations of seawater-based binder.
  • Comprehensive analysis of the rheological properties, Shore hardness, and chemical components of the seawater-based biocarbonate cement/sodium alginate composite.
  • Successful 3D printing of coral-like structures using the optimally formulated seawater-based biocarbonate cement/sodium alginate composite, showcasing its potential for environmental applications and sustainable development.
Project video
Project images
HKU 3D Concrete Printing Laboratory
3D printed coral reef
The material's properties
Calcite, magnesian (1 mol/L) Calcite, magnesian (1 mol/L) + sodium alginate
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