Preparation and mechanical performance of SiC_w/geopolymer composites through direct ink writing

Traditional geopolymer structures benefit from the durability, irradiation resistance, and environmental friendliness, but their brittleness limits their applications where repeated, impactive strains are imparted. This situation may be alleviated if complex structures with tunable geometry can be fabricated, for example, through 3D printing based on direct ink writing (DIW). In this research, SiC whisker/geopolymer (SiC_w/GP) composites were fabricated by the DIW for the first time. The rheological behaviors of the SiC_w/GP inks and the fracture behaviors of the printed samples were explored. The modified printing inks exhibited non-Newtonian fluid behavior (shear-thinning). Subsequently, a series of lightweight architected structures were fabricated, and they revealed how reinforcement and architecture of the printed structures could influence both the strength and toughness of the SiC_w/GP composites.