Influence of Composite Retarder on Construction Performance of 3D Printing Concrete

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.0892

Abstract

Abstract:

This study addressed the requirements for compressive strength and setting time in continuous 3D printing concrete construction by employing a composite retarder of sodium gluconate and sodium citrate. By testing rheological properties， compressive strength， and setting time of the composite paste， a type of 3D printing concrete was successfully developed that concurrently met the demands of printability， buildability， compressive strength， and setting time. The results indicate that when the dosage of sodium citrate or sodium gluconate is between 0.02% and 0.10% （mass fraction）， or when the composite retarder dosage is 0.10% or 0.12%， the cement hydration is effectively delayed. Compared to the reference group， the initial and final setting times are extended by 32~42 min and 34~50 min， respectively. The variation in total composite retarder dosage shows no significant effect on the setting time， early-age strength， or rheological properties of different mixtures. However， the variation in proportion between sodium citrate and sodium gluconate demonstrates considerable influence on the setting time， early-age strength， and rheological properties of the 3D printing concrete. When the mass ratio of sodium citrate to sodium gluconate ranges from 1∶1 to 2∶1， the overall performance of the 3D printing concrete is optimal. Additionally， the 3D printing concrete prepared with composite retarder is successfully enabled the continuous printing of precast composite floor slab side formwork.

Key words: 3D printing concrete, composite retarder, sodium gluconate, sodium citrate, concrete performance, engineering application

CLC Number:

TU528

WU Jie, TANG Zhenzhong, DEI Kai, YAO Yong. Influence of Composite Retarder on Construction Performance of 3D Printing Concrete[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(4): 1208-1219.

Figures/Tables 16

References 21

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Material	Setting time/min		Compressive strength/MPa		Flexural strength/MPa		Specific surface area/（kg·m^-3）
Material	Initial setting time	Final setting time	3 d	28 d	3 d	28 d	Specific surface area/（kg·m^-3）
OPC	138	186	35.2	68.1	6.2	9.0	363
HBC	23	27	25.8	44.1	5.8	7.6	485

Material	Setting time/min		Compressive strength/MPa		Flexural strength/MPa		Specific surface area/（kg·m^-3）
Material	Initial setting time	Final setting time	3 d	28 d	3 d	28 d	Specific surface area/（kg·m^-3）
OPC	138	186	35.2	68.1	6.2	9.0	363
HBC	23	27	25.8	44.1	5.8	7.6	485

Sample No.	Mass/g							Mass fraction/%
Sample No.	OPC	HBC	FA	HPMC	SP	Water	Sand	SC	SG
Reference	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0	0
SCG1	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.02	0.08
SCG2	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.04	0.06
SCG3	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.06	0.04
SCG4	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.08	0.02
SCG5	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.04	0.08
SCG6	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.06	0.06
SCG7	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.08	0.04
SCG8	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.10	0.02

Sample No.	Mass/g							Mass fraction/%
Sample No.	OPC	HBC	FA	HPMC	SP	Water	Sand	SC	SG
Reference	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0	0
SCG1	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.02	0.08
SCG2	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.04	0.06
SCG3	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.06	0.04
SCG4	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.08	0.02
SCG5	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.04	0.08
SCG6	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.06	0.06
SCG7	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.08	0.04
SCG8	500	350	150	0.2	0.5	300	1 100	0.10	0.02

Inspection item		Standard requirement	Performance	Inspection standard
Outflow fluidity/mm		180~200	195	T/CECS 786—2020
Inital setting time/min		—	51	JGJ/T 70—2009
Final setting time/min		—	85	JGJ/T 70—2009
Printable time/min		—	25	Field measurement
Compressive strength（on-site sampling）/MPa	6 h	—	11.2	T/CECS 786—2020
	8 h	—	15.7
	28 d	≥30	54.8
Extrudability		Continuous， uniform， unobstructed， and free of significant cracking	Continuous， uniform， unobstructed， and free of significant cracking	T/CECS 786—2020
Stand ability		Shape remains stable and does not collapse after extrusion	Shape remains stable and does not collapse after extrusion	T/CECS 786—2020
Interlayer bonding strength/MPa		≥1.5	3.4	T/CECS 786—2020
Interlayer splitting strength/MPa		≥1	2.8	T/CECS 786—2020
Printing strength reduction rate/%		≤20	-3	T/CECS 786—2020
28 d drying shrinkage		—	273×10^-6	GB/T 50082—2024