A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE SELF-HEALING POTENTIAL OF BACTERIA-MODIFIED FIBERS IN CONCRETE

Author(s): Kira Weise (1), Henk Jonkers (2), Eddie Koenders (1)
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: SynerCrete’18 International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches for Cement-based Materials and Structural Concrete
Editor(s): Miguel Azenha, Dirk Schlicke, Farid Benboudjema, Agnieszka Jędrzejewska
ISBN: 978-2-35158-202-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-203-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2018
Pages: 1043-1048
Total Pages: 6
Language : English

Abstract: Enhancing the self-healing potential of cementitious materials can be achieved in many different ways. An innovative method that gained a lot of attention is to add concrete compatible bacteria to a mixture that reacts when activated with oxygen and water, and produces limestone with the ability to fill up cracks. Most challenging is how to add the bacteria into a concrete so that they survive and are properly positioned with access to the nutrient (lactate). A common way is to add bacteria and precursor together in a porous clay particle, or more recently, adding them as a compressed pill. In this contribution, results of a preliminary study will be presented that show the potential of modifying polypropylene fibres with bacteria and its nutrient. In addition to the bacteria to produce limestone at the crack surfaces, limestone was also formed in the crack opening. This mechanism showed an
accelerated self-healin process with the potential to close wider cracks. The study reports first results of various ways to modify the fibres with bacteria with emphasis of the adhesion between fibres and bacteria. The preliminary study showed interesting results and demonstrated the difficulties of getting the bacteria properly coated on fibre surfaces.

Online publication : 2018
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00