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© 2025 Faculty of Space Technologies (Spacetech)
AGH University of Krakow
AGH University of Krakow
The project focuses on the development of a new generation of hybrid materials combining traditional cement-based composites with multifunctional intelligent structures produced using 3D printing technology.
The aim of the project is to develop printable cement composites enhanced with electrically conductive and photocatalytic additives, as well as to establish methods for evaluating their printability and designing hybrid structures with optimized printing geometries. These advanced materials will combine the durability of conventional cement composites with additional functionalities, enabling them to actively respond to environmental conditions.
The project coordinator is Prof. Waldemar Pichór from the Faculty of Space Technologies AGH.
3D printing opens new possibilities for creating cement-based materials with precisely controlled structures and tailored properties. In the project, researchers will develop innovative printing techniques that allow active materials to be strategically placed within the composite, creating structures with designed electrical, thermal and photocatalytic functions.
A key challenge will be understanding how the composition of printing mixtures, their rheological properties and the geometry of printed paths influence the final performance of hybrid composites.
Cement-based composites containing electrically conductive additives can be used to develop intelligent construction elements capable of monitoring temperature and mechanical conditions.
Such materials could support applications including temperature monitoring of concrete structures, heat pump systems and building facades. Changes in the electrical response of the material could be used to control building systems such as heating, ventilation or shading elements, improving energy efficiency and user comfort.
Another important aspect of the project is the development of cement composites containing titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a material with photocatalytic properties.
Under light irradiation, TiO₂ can support the decomposition of harmful pollutants, contributing to active air purification. Researchers will investigate hybrid cement structures with 3D-printed TiO₂-containing patterns and determine how the geometry of printed paths influences the efficiency of pollutant removal.
The project explores how the combination of material engineering and additive manufacturing can lead to a new generation of multifunctional cement composites.
Researchers will develop a “wet-on-wet” forming approach, in which a mixture containing active additives is printed directly onto fresh cement material. This method will enable the creation of complex hybrid structures while maintaining appropriate mechanical properties.
The project will also investigate how 3D structural design and the controlled placement of conductive pathways can reduce the amount of conductive additives required while maintaining efficient heat generation, allowing the development of lightweight and energy-efficient heating elements integrated directly into cement-based materials.
The results of the project will provide new knowledge about the relationship between the microstructure of hybrid composites, the properties of active additives and the geometry of 3D-printed structures.
The developed solutions will contribute to the design of intelligent cement-based composites that can sense, respond and perform additional functions beyond traditional construction materials. The project represents a step towards the future of smart, energy-efficient and multifunctional infrastructure.
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