Ireland tests its first cement-free 3D-printed construction material
From left to right: the research team, Liam Whittle, Ivan Sorokivskyi, Vasyl Pylypiv and Jandré Oosthuizen, HTL, together with Prof. Sara Pavia and Dr. Zehao Lei, Trinity (Photo: Trinity College Dublin)
July 15 2026 – Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have successfully demonstrated Ireland’s first cement-free geopolymer for large-scale 3D printing. Instead of conventional Portland cement, the material uses residues from bauxite processing, the raw material used to produce aluminium. More than thirty percent of the binder consists of locally sourced industrial by-products.
The demonstration showed that the material can be mixed, pumped and printed layer by layer, making it suitable for automated construction processes. This approach reduces material waste while allowing complex shapes to be produced more efficiently.
According to the researchers, the geopolymer could significantly lower the carbon emissions associated with concrete production. Future work will concentrate on scaling up manufacturing and evaluating the material’s strength, durability and long-term performance in practical construction projects.
