Applicability of Superabsorbent Polymer as a Protective Carrier in the Bio-based Self-healing Concrete

Abstract

Concrete with an enhanced self-healing ability caused by metabolic activity of certain bacteria has been widely studied in the recent decades. This paper deals with two of the major drawbacks which have been identified in the previous research – the inability of bacteria to survive the crystalline pressures in the hardening concrete and the need for a sufficient water supply for its metabolism. In order to solve these issues, in the current study, superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are applied to standard cement paste as a means of protection of the bacteria and also as a poten-tial water reservoir. To prove the SAP applicability in the bio-based concrete, cement composite specimens with SAP, specimens with SAP and a biological self-healing agent and reference spec-imens were prepared. Subsequently, the sealing of artificially introduced cracks was recorded and the influence of the SAP addition on the materials self-healing ability was determined.