A microcapsule technology based self-healing system for concrete structures

Abstract

In the study, a novel microcapsule technology based self-healing system for concrete structures has been developed. Through situ-polymerization reaction, the microcapsule is formed by urea formaldehyde resin to pack the epoxy material, which is applied to cementitious composite to achieve self-healing effect. The experimental results revealed that the self-healing efficiency of the composite can be accessed from the recovery of the permeability and strength for the cracked cementitious specimens as the healing agent in the microcapsule acting on the cracks directly. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM/EDX) results show that the epoxy resin is released along with the cracking of the cementitious composite and prevent from cracks continued growth. Further studies show that the self-healing efficiency is affected by the pre-loading of composite, particle size of microcapsule, aging duration of healing agent and so on. © 2013 World Scientific Publishing Company.