Large-scale robotic 3D printing of bio-based and biodegradable materials for non-standardized, single-use formwork in architecture
The following research investigates bio-based and biodegradable polymers for concrete formworks. It proposes synthesizing biopolymers with digital fabrication tools, such as robotic 3D printing, to complement existing research on reducing the amount of concrete used in buildings.
The climate crisis challenges architects, designers, and engineers to explore alternative opportunities for more sustainable fabrication processes. Biopolymers have emerged as a potential material to replace petroleum-based plastics used in building and construction processes. Simultaneously, existing research outlines how formworks can be 3D printed with plastics to reduce the required amount of material used in the formwork assembly. Printed formworks allow for individualized concrete elements that create material-optimized concrete structures. Additionally, printed formworks help minimize the use of non-renewable resources while decreasing the amount of on- and off-site labor in the construction process.
This research suggests that examining formwork material made from biopolymers can bridge the research gap between the existing approach for producing sustainable concrete elements and petroleum-based plastic for their single-use formworks. This study investigates the production of thermoplastic starch (TPS) pellets and connected digital fabrication techniques. It elaborates upon the effects of adding bio-additives, such as particles and fibers, to the basic formulation and the impact of different ratios in the mixture on the behavior and properties of the material. TPS pellets are further processed in a large-scale robotic 3D printing setup utilizing the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) deposition method.
Advantages and challenges will be revealed and discussed within the scope of the architectural research field. The focus of this research underlines the production and digital fabrication technique of TPS pellets, considering the primary goal of a sustainable architectural bio-based and bio-compostable construction system of concrete formwork. This research aims to rethink the materials used in the construction of buildings and suggests introducing bio-based and biodegradable materials in architecture. It seeks ephemeral solutions involving biopolymers and how to apply them ecologically in architecture.
