A comparison of potential healing agents for vascular-based self-healing concrete

¹ Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 60, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
² KU Leuven, Department of Civil Engineering, Materials and Constructions, Ghent Technology Campus, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Abstract

Vascular self-healing concrete is an innovative technology that can potentially improve the durability and longevity of concrete structures. However, limited research is available concerning this type of self-healing compared to intrinsic or capsule-based healing. As the rheology and curing properties of a healing agent can dictate the optimal design configuration of a vascular network, a series of testing procedures for evaluating healing agents is further explored. In this study, the suitability of various commercially available healing agents is considered using a vascular network system in mechanical loading and water absorption test set-ups. In this particular configuration, high sealing efficiencies were obtained for most of the healing agents used, and the polyurethanes and epoxy resin that were studied showed high load regain values. This work provides a testing methodology to select a healing agent in terms of its mechanical load regain, sealing efficiency, rheology, and curing properties, and can be used to determine a suitable healing agent for vascular healing applications.