New impact printing technique can build structures, offers greener alternative to concrete and 3D printing
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a robotic construction method called impact printing that is sustainable because it uses earth-based materials instead of cement.
In a nutshell: As the construction industry faces pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, developments like impact printing offer a solution. By harnessing abundant earth materials and advanced robotics, this method is more sustainable than traditional construction methods and even 3D printing.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a robotic construction method called impact printing that is sustainable because it uses earth-based materials instead of cement.
Impact printing rapidly deposits small portions of a specially formulated earth mixture at high velocities. A custom-built robotic tool extrudes and shoots the material downward at up to 10 meters per second, gradually building up walls and structures. As each portion impacts the layers below, the material bonds strongly without requiring additional adhesives or drying time.
"We developed a robotic tool and a method that could take common material, which is the excavated material on construction sites, and turn it back into usable building products, at low cost and efficiently, with significantly less CO2 than existing industrialized building methods, including 3D printing," Dr. Lauren Vasey, project lead at ETH Zurich, told Ars Technica.
The earth mixture used in impact printing is composed primarily of locally sourced materials like excavated soil, silt, and clay – materials that can often be obtained directly from construction sites. Currently, only about 1-2 percent mineral stabilizer is required, which is far less than the cement content in conventional concrete.