Rheological control enables printing of ultra lightweight cement composite for warmer climates

3D printing of cementitious materials offers i) faster and more accurate construction with potentially less waste, ii) a decrease in the amount of labor and consequently cost of labor, and iii) customization in design. Here, we report 3D printing of ultra-lightweight cement composite containing cenosphere, white cement, and white silica fume. This mix, which contains a significant amount of recycled material, achieves i) high-strength, ii) low density, iii) low thermal conductivity, and iv) high solar reflectance. The project aims at optimization of the rheological properties of this formulation to obtain a printable material that can reflect light and provide thermally insulating properties for warmer climates. Thermal and structural characterization will be carried out to demonstrate the performance of this mix in comparison to other available alternatives.