Study of natural self-healing of materials based on inorganic binders

Abstract

The study of natural self-healing of materials based on inorganic binders has been carried out. The age of the study was one month after loading with cracking. Microscopic analysis of samples with cracks based on Portland cement, oxychloride cement and gypsum showed that all studied materials are capable of filling cracks on their own. The filler, such as calcium carbonate or gypsum dihydrate, can have a sufficiently high strength so that a selfhealing effect is present. A filling agent such as magnesium hydroxide cannot have strength, and then only the crack is filled without restoring strength. Filling of cracks at the age of up to one month is insignificant and does not exceed 0.5 microns. This is not enough to fill large cracks. For modern building structures, natural self-healing is ineffective. This requires the use of artificial methods of self-healing in modern building structures.