The concept of self-healing building materials has been a focus of research for some time now, with engineers looking to harness lessons from nature to serve the built environment. One of the focuses of this research has been the integration of biological processes to create concrete structures with the ability to heal themselves. The degradation of concrete under tension, and the subsequent weakening as a result of water exposure is major and time-consuming problem in the construction industry and having spent many summers myself patching up mortar cracks on Welsh farm buildings this is one breakthrough I am particularly looking forward to.
The breakthrough is hoped to be achieved through the integration of dormant bacteria within the cement, which becomes active when exposed to water. At this point the bacteria converts calcium lactate into limestone, sealing the surface of the concrete. Although researchers at Delft University in the Netherlands continue to work on improving this process, at present the integration of the high-volume materials and components required come at the expense of structural integrity.
Similar research continues throughout Europe and Northern America. University of Manchester and University of Leeds researchers have recently been asking how sea-shells can help us build more resilient and stronger buildings, while several German universities continue to examine how synthetic processes may lead to self-healing metal structures.
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