Northumbria College, based mostly within the UK, has been awarded over €250,000 via the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowship to help analysis into sustainable manufacturing strategies for low-carbon, 3D printed development supplies.
Below this grant, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Jyotirmoy Mishra will be a part of the Northumbria staff to develop geopolymer mortars derived from agricultural and industrial waste. The analysis staff additionally consists of Affiliate Professor Keerthan Poologanathan, Head of Structural Engineering, Affiliate Professor in Civil Engineering Dr Vikki Edmondson, and Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering, Dr Mohammadali Rezazadeh.
As a part of the Horizon Europe program, MSCA Fellowships present postdoctoral researchers with superior coaching and promote worldwide, cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Advancing Sustainable Supplies for Building
The mission goals to develop 3D printable geopolymer mortars utilizing waste-derived alkaline activators as a sustainable different to conventional Portland cement, which is understood for its excessive carbon footprint. The research will consider key materials properties, together with setting time, workability, compressive power, microstructure, and long-term sturdiness. As well as, a complete Life Cycle Evaluation might be performed to evaluate the environmental affect of those supplies.
Dr. Poologanathan highlighted the significance of the analysis, stating, “3D printed concrete represents a key growth for sustainable development. This analysis will assist cut back carbon emissions, decrease materials prices, and reduce waste, whereas bettering the power and sturdiness of recent infrastructure.”
Dr. Mishra added, “The chance to discover waste-based different activators in 3D printed geopolymer mortars is each well timed and important for addressing international local weather challenges within the constructed setting.”
Constructing on Established Experience and Innovation
This initiative builds on Northumbria’s established strengths in civil and structural engineering, its worldwide collaborations, and a robust report of PhD-led analysis. It additionally aligns with the College’s ongoing dedication to addressing local weather change and advancing round economic system ideas.
Final yr, Northumbria enhanced its analysis infrastructure by putting in superior 3D development printing know-how, developed in partnership with main 3D printer producer Luyten 3D and UK-based sustainable know-how firm ChangeMaker 3D. This new functionality is housed inside the College’s Buildings Laboratory.
3D Printing in Building: Advancing Pace, Affordability, and Sustainability
In 2025, the Kyiv Nationwide College of Building and Structure (KNUBA), launched a two-year collaborative mission to develop concrete mixtures utilizing development particles and different waste supplies. These new concrete blends might be utilized in each conventional development and superior 3D printing applied sciences to speed up the rebuilding of Ukraine’s broken infrastructure. This initiative goals not solely to help fast and sustainable reconstruction but additionally to ascertain a scalable mannequin for post-crisis infrastructure growth worldwide.
Elsewhere, Sustainable Concrete Improvements (SCI), an Ohio-based development agency, carried out 3D concrete printing know-how for residential constructing tasks. Leveraging superior equipment equipped by Dutch firm CyBe Building, SCI got down to create properties which might be quicker to construct, less expensive, and environmentally sustainable.
By integrating 3D printed wall components into typical development workflows, SCI has achieved important reductions in each labor and materials prices. This technique not solely shortens mission timelines but additionally drastically minimizes materials waste, aligning with broader sustainability aims by decreasing the environmental affect of development actions.
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Featured picture exhibits 3D development printer in motion. Picture by way of Northumbria College’s Buildings Laboratory.
