Self-Healing Concrete

Billions of dollars are spent each year to repair and maintain concrete-based structures, prompting materials engineers to come up with a variety of healing agents to restore damage, generally through the use of expensive catalysts. But a new approach is now being investigated that uses sunlight to activate a protective coating, making it “catalyst free” and, therefore, more cost-effective.

The protective coating is designed to be sprayed on the surface, preventing small surface cracks from developing into larger ones that could compromise integrity of the structure. When small cracks appear, polymer microcapsules release their contents – a solution that turns into a water-resistant solid when exposed to light and protects the underlying concrete from further damage. The eco-friendly material can be used even in very cold climates and makes the substrate less susceptible to penetration by water as well as road salt.