Integration of Functional Materials into 3D Printing for Construction

The advantage of 3D construction printing as a sustainable manufacturing technique is that it enables the selective and precise placement of materials within the manufactured structure where it is required, eliminating any unnecessary material usage. This material-saving technique can also create structures that were previously unattainable by traditional techniques. Integration of such a manufacturing technique with functional construction materials offers new levels of adaptability and responsiveness to their environment and holds the potential to fundamentally transform the way buildings are designed and built. Functional materials are materials that possess unique properties and capabilities that allow them to perform specific functions based on their inherent characteristics, such as sensing and responding to changes in the environment or altering their behaviour in response to external factors such as temperature or pressure. Examples of functionally graded materials used in construction include rubber, piezoelectric, and self-sensing materials; several of which improve mechanical strength, thermal stability, and/or electrical conductivity properties. This paper reviews the benefits of such materials and explores research at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on 3D construction printing involving functional materials.