INTRODUCTION

Concrete is one of the most used materials in the world with robust applications and

increasing demand. Despite considerable advancement in concrete and cementitious materials

over last centuries, infrastructure built in the present world with these materials, such as dams,

roads, bridges, tunnels and buildings require intensive repair and maintenance throughout its

design life.

Cracks in concrete are a common phenomenon due to the relatively low tensile strength.

Durability of concrete is impaired by these cracks since they provide an easy path for the

transportation of liquids and gasses that potentially contain harmful substances. If micro-cracks

grow and reach the reinforcement, not only the concrete itself may be attacked, but also the

reinforcement will be corroded. Therefore, it is important to control the crack width and to heal

the cracks as soon as possible. Since the costs involved for maintenance and repair of concrete

structures are usually high, this research focuses on the development of self-healing concrete.

Self-healing of cracks in concrete would contribute to a longer service life of concrete structures

and would make the material not only more durable but also more sustainable.
SELF HEALING CONCRETE

In the simplest terms, self-healing concrete is concrete with the capacity to repair its own

cracks and imperfections. When it comes to using concrete in construction, structural integrity is

a major concern. As a result, a great deal of time and effort is put into ensuring that the concrete

is in excellent condition. Self-healing concrete requires no human intervention to remain in tip-

top shape. Self-healing concrete and cementitious materials, which can recover after initial

damage, have the potential to address these challenges. Self-healing technology in concrete and

cementitious materials can mitigate the unnecessary repair and maintenance of built

infrastructure as well as overall CO2 emission due to cement production.

How Does Self-Healing Concrete Work?

Unlike regular concrete, self-healing concrete contains bacteria called bacillus pasteurii, along

with a form of starch that serves as food for the bacteria. These bacteria stay dormant in the

concrete until a crack forms and air gets in. This change wakes up the bacteria and leads them to

eat the starch that has been added to the concrete. As the bacteria eat, grow and reproduce, they

excrete calcite, which is a form of calcium carbonate. When the calcite bonds to the concrete, it

fills the crack and seals it up.

How Effective Is Self-Healing Concrete?

Bacteria (Bacillus pseudofirmus or Sporosarcina pasteurii) are mixed and distributed evenly

throughout the concrete but can lie dormant for up to 200 years as long as there is food in the

form of particles. It is only with the arrival of concrete’s nemesis itself – rainwater or

atmospheric moisture seeping into cracks – that the bacteria starts to produce the limestone that

eventually repairs the cracks. It’s a similar process to that carried out by osteoplast cells in our

body which make bones. With the help of bacillus pasteurii, cracked concrete can

recover 90% of its initial strength. In other words, using bacteria to jump-start the healing

process is an excellent way to teach concrete to repair itself.

Since concrete is used every day for all manner of construction, it stands to reason that

this innovation could make infrastructure safer and more durable. The use of bacillus

pasteurii not only reverses deterioration but could also minimize the costs and environmental

effects of building new structures. Moreover, repairs made with this kind of concrete are likely to

last longer than their traditional counterparts.

 The invention comes in three forms: a spray that can be applied to existing construction

for small cracks that need repairing, a repair mortar for structural repair of large damage and

self-healing concrete itself, which can be mixed in quantities as needed. While the spray is

commercially available, the latter two are currently in field tests. One application will be widely

useful for urban planners is highway infrastructure, where the use of de-icing salts is notoriously

detrimental to concrete-paved roads.

Environmental Impact of Self-Healing Concrete

According to a WWF report, by 2030, urban growth in China and India will place

global cement output at 5bn metric tons per year. With current output already responsible for 8%

of the global emissions total, we could see potential in self-healing concrete by reducing the

future production of cement. As maintenance of structures are standard safety procedures, one

cannot discount the multiple aspects of indirect pollution it contributes: the dust during

construction, the smoke emissions of trucks used for bridge repairs and etc. Although the

environmental impact of other sources of pollution is more visible, it is best to address this

implicit problem early on. Also, this will help lower maintenance for building owners,

homeowners and for the government as well.

The Future of Self-Healing Concrete

As you can imagine, self-healing concrete is a total game-changer. It gives us the ability

to construct buildings without worrying about damages or intensive maintenance. Not only will

structures benefit from self-healing concrete, they are a wonderful solution for sidewalks.

Smooth pavement can be laid down in cities and suburbs, without having to worry about wear
and tear.

However, self-healing concrete is still amid being perfected. While it may be hard to get

your hands on some self-healing concrete at the moment, you can expect it to dominate the

industry within the next few years. In the meantime, there are recipes to create your own self-

healing concrete online.

Encouraging as it sounds, self-healing concrete can’t cure very wide cracks or potholes

on roads just yet; the technology is currently able to mend cracks up to 0.8mm wide. And while

making better concrete is a more feasible approach to sustainable building than shifting to an

entirely new building material, that doesn’t mean the innovation is a sure bet. The current cost

would be prohibitive for many. A standard-priced cubic meter of concrete is €70, while the self-

healing variety would cost €100.

One of the most used building materials is once again revolutionizing how we build and

design our infrastructures. With self-healing concrete, wear and tear will no longer be a worry

for concrete buildings or sidewalks. Although it is still in development, scientists are taking

many different approaches to perfecting self-healing concrete. Some of these healing agents have

been created using bacteria, sodium silicate, as well as fungus. There’s no denying that the world

is changing every day. Concrete is changing with it. As time progresses, we can’t wait to see

what more will develop with self-healing concrete.

References
Gruyaert E, S. D. (n.d.). Self-Healing Concrete. Retrieved from Ghent University Website:
https://www.ugent.be/ea/structural-
engineering/en/research/magnel/research/research3/selfhealing
Halverson, B. (2019, January 8). What is Self-Healing Concrete? Retrieved from Lorman:
https://www.lorman.com/resources/what-is-self-healing-concrete-17376
How Self-Healing Concrete Works. (2015, February 4). Retrieved from Delzotto Products:
https://delzottoproducts.com/2015/02/04/self-healing-concrete-works/
Qureshi, T. a.-T. (2020, May 28). Self-Healing Concrete and Cementitious Materials. Retrieved
from IntechOpen: https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/self-healing-concrete-and-
cementitious-materials
The self-healing concrete that can fix its own cracks. (2015, June 29). Retrieved from The
Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/29/the-self-
healing-concrete-that-can-fix-its-own-cracks