Self-Healing Concrete

How Does this Technology Work?

Self healing concrete is made up of bacteria that, in certain circumstances, can repair itself. The idea is that if the concrete cracks it can repair the crack itself. When creating the concrete, scientists mixed in capsules with bacteria in them. The idea is that when the concrete cracks the bacteria will be released. After the bacteria are released, if they are exposed to calcium, they will start to form crystals which in turn fill in the crack that was made. After the bacteria is finished, spores will be left behind, and when the concrete cracks again those spores will repeat the process.

How is this an Improvement from Before?

Making concrete is very costly but not in the $ sense. The creation of concrete produces a lot of CO2 emissions. The transportation of concrete is also another large CO2 emissions creator. Concrete, in all aspects, is responsible for 9% of CO2 emissions globally. This new concrete can lower the CO2 emission in both creation and transportation- if the concrete can repair itself, there isn’t a high need to constantly make more concrete for repairs; meaning that not only can the concrete production decline, but the transportation of concrete also reduces.