CO2 Mineralization Could Make 3D Printed Concrete Cleaner and Stronger

Three-dimensional printed concrete has a carbon problem. Because printed structures rely on a high binder content to hold their shape layer by layer, the technology carries a substantial carbon emission burden even as it transforms construction. A new review examines whether CO2 mineralization, which locks carbon dioxide into solid carbonate minerals, can turn that liability into an advantage by sequestering carbon while simultaneously improving material performance.

The review, published in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, establishes a framework connecting material, process, performance, and sustainability. It examines mineralization mechanisms across different material systems, including cement-based systems, supplementary and novel cementitious materials, and aggregates used as mineralization carriers.

The authors identify three major integration pathways. The first is plastic-state mineralization, in which carbon dioxide reacts with the fresh, printable mix. This route is effective for rheological regulation and buildability enhancement, helping the printed material hold its shape. However, its carbon uptake is generally limited by the short reaction time available and by gas utilization efficiency.

The second pathway is hardening-stage CO2 curing, applied after the material has been deposited. This approach can achieve higher carbon uptake and stronger microstructural densification, but it is constrained by diffusion depth, moisture gradients, and the difficulty of scaling the process up to practical construction dimensions.

The third pathway is material precarbonation, in which constituent materials are treated with CO2 before they enter the printing process. The review compares these routes across the material-process-performance-sustainability framework to clarify where each offers the greatest benefit.

According to the available evidence, CO2 mineralization can improve printability, mechanical strength, and interlayer bonding through three mechanisms: accelerated hydration, carbonate precipitation, and pore refinement.

The benefits are not automatic. The review identifies non-uniform reactions, increased anisotropy, durability uncertainty, and additional energy or cost demands as major barriers that remain unresolved.

The authors argue that the future development of CO2 mineralization-integrated 3D printed concrete should move away from isolated performance optimization toward coordinated control of material reactivity, CO2 transport, the printing process, long-term durability, and net life-cycle benefit. In other words, carbon uptake, print quality, and mechanical performance must be managed together rather than pursued one at a time.

As an open-access review, the paper consolidates recent progress and maps the remaining challenges for researchers working at the intersection of carbon capture and additive construction. It positions CO2 mineralization as a promising route for simultaneous carbon sequestration and performance enhancement in 3D printed concrete, while making clear that the technology is still short of coordinated, scalable deployment.

Subject of Research: CO2 mineralization integrated into 3D printed concrete, covering mechanisms, integration pathways, and challenges

Article Title: CO2 mineralization-integrated 3D printed concrete: Review and challenges

Article References: Liu, H., Liu, L., Liu, C., & Xiao, J. (2026). CO2 mineralization-integrated 3D printed concrete: Review and challenges. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02140-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s42114-026-02140-8

Keywords: 3D printed concrete, CO2 mineralization, carbon sequestration, CO2 curing, precarbonation, interlayer bonding, buildability, pore refinement, durability, life-cycle assessment, cementitious materials, additive construction