3DFORMWORKS

The 3DFORMWORKS project aims to produce complex-shaped parts in the construction and refractory industries by adopting 3D printing technology to design the exterior shape of the part by creating a “permanent formwork” in cement ink and then pouring concrete (construction or refractory) into it. This involves the development of “low-carbon” inks and process optimization through the use of artificial intelligence, smart sensors, and digital simulations. This approach reduces costs, improves productivity, and supports the ecological transition.

In this project, the Centre for Materials and Processes (CERI MP) of IMT Nord Europe focuses more particularly on formulating 3D-printable “low-carbon” cement inks. This involves the selection of mineral additions with the appropriate chemistry, mineralogy and granulometry to allow the substitution of a significant proportion of clinker (which produces high CO₂ emissions during its production) from the binder and also to substitute all or part of the granular skeleton of the ink with alternative materials in order to reduce the carbon impact of the inks.