Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers

Cement-based materials are the most widely used construction materials in the world for infrastructure works. Unfortunately, they come with a high environmental burden due to carbon dioxide emissions and the need for regular maintenance and repairs. Without these, the service life can decrease. By u...

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Main Author: Didier Snoeck
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Infrastructures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/10/129
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author Didier Snoeck
author_facet Didier Snoeck
author_sort Didier Snoeck
collection DOAJ
description Cement-based materials are the most widely used construction materials in the world for infrastructure works. Unfortunately, they come with a high environmental burden due to carbon dioxide emissions and the need for regular maintenance and repairs. Without these, the service life can decrease. By using a self-healing approach, the service life can be extended, as well as the durability and sustainability of the building material. As the ability to self-heal depends on the age of the material, so will the potential influence of added materials to promote this healing. However, the effects of reduced healing beyond one year are not ubiquitous in the literature. In this study, specimens were studied after a decade of maturation under different storage conditions to conclude on the self-healing capabilities of the old samples. Cracks can still be partially healed after ten years, mainly due to the formation of calcium carbonate crystals, related to the observed regain in mechanical properties measured by repeated four-point bending tests. The initial addition of superabsorbent polymers to the mixture results in greater healing compared to the reference samples, making it a sustainable option for the future of cement-based composites.
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spelling doaj.art-30d08ddf4fb146a4879fdf3cddc19e632023-11-24T00:36:29ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112022-09-0171012910.3390/infrastructures7100129Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent PolymersDidier Snoeck0BATir Department, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 50 F.D. Roosevelt Ave., CP 194/02, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumCement-based materials are the most widely used construction materials in the world for infrastructure works. Unfortunately, they come with a high environmental burden due to carbon dioxide emissions and the need for regular maintenance and repairs. Without these, the service life can decrease. By using a self-healing approach, the service life can be extended, as well as the durability and sustainability of the building material. As the ability to self-heal depends on the age of the material, so will the potential influence of added materials to promote this healing. However, the effects of reduced healing beyond one year are not ubiquitous in the literature. In this study, specimens were studied after a decade of maturation under different storage conditions to conclude on the self-healing capabilities of the old samples. Cracks can still be partially healed after ten years, mainly due to the formation of calcium carbonate crystals, related to the observed regain in mechanical properties measured by repeated four-point bending tests. The initial addition of superabsorbent polymers to the mixture results in greater healing compared to the reference samples, making it a sustainable option for the future of cement-based composites.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/10/129durabilitysustainabilitysustainable structural designfurther hydrationcalcium carbonate crystallizationself-healing
spellingShingle Didier Snoeck
Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
Infrastructures
durability
sustainability
sustainable structural design
further hydration
calcium carbonate crystallization
self-healing
title Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
title_full Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
title_fullStr Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
title_full_unstemmed Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
title_short Autogenous Healing in 10-Years Aged Cementitious Composites Using Microfibers and Superabsorbent Polymers
title_sort autogenous healing in 10 years aged cementitious composites using microfibers and superabsorbent polymers
topic durability
sustainability
sustainable structural design
further hydration
calcium carbonate crystallization
self-healing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/7/10/129
work_keys_str_mv AT didiersnoeck autogenoushealingin10yearsagedcementitiouscompositesusingmicrofibersandsuperabsorbentpolymers