Henk Jonkers, of Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands, has designed a new type of concrete that can fix its own cracks.
Henk Jonkers, of Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands, has designed a new type of concrete that can fix its own cracks.
The concrete uses bacteria to heal itself.
The concrete uses bacteria to heal itself.
courtesy Delft University of Technology
Here is a test: this slab of bioconcrete has just been cracked...
Here is a test: this slab of bioconcrete has just been cracked...
courtesy delft university
Here is the crack after 28 days...
Here is the crack after 28 days...
courtesy delft university
...and here it is after 56 days, with significant improvement clearly visible.
...and here it is after 56 days, with significant improvement clearly visible.
courtesy delft university
Concrete is extremely alkaline and the "healing" bacteria must wait dormant for years before being activated by water.
Concrete is extremely alkaline and the "healing" bacteria must wait dormant for years before being activated by water.
The bacteria used for the job are the bacillus, because they thrive in alkaline conditions and produce spores that can survive for decades without food or oxygen.
The bacteria used for the job are the bacillus, because they thrive in alkaline conditions and produce spores that can survive for decades without food or oxygen.
The bioconcrete is mixed just like regular concrete, but with an extra ingredient -- the "healing agent."
The bioconcrete is mixed just like regular concrete, but with an extra ingredient -- the "healing agent."
courtesy delft university
It remains intact during mixing, only dissolving and becoming active if the concrete cracks and water gets in.
It remains intact during mixing, only dissolving and becoming active if the concrete cracks and water gets in.
courtesy delft university
"The next challenge is not only to have the bacteria active in concrete, but also to make them produce repair material for the concrete -- and that is limestone."
"The next challenge is not only to have the bacteria active in concrete, but also to make them produce repair material for the concrete -- and that is limestone."
Courtesy Henk Jonkers