Self-repairing of polymer-cement concrete

Abstract

Self-repairing means ability to the total or partial recovering of the properties which were worsened as a consequence of damage of the material. The subject of the paper is evaluation of ability to self-repair of a cement composite modified with epoxy resin without a hardener. The methodology of investigation of self-repairing building materials, developed by the authors, has been described, with controllable enforcing of the limited weakening of the material. Also, the self-repair degree has been defined as the measure of self-repairing ability of the building composites. The material model of the epoxy-cement composite has been developed on the basis of the tests results. The material optimization of the composite towards the maximum self-repairing ability has also been carried out. The results of investigation have confirmed the possibility of self-repairing of the cement composite modified with the epoxy resin without hardener. The conclusion and further research needs in the range of the self-repairing epoxy-cement composites have been pointed out.