Two researchers from Delft Technical University in Holland have developed a self-healing cement that can stop microcracks from forming in concrete. The material incorporates alkaphilic bacterial spores (which thrive in the alkaline environment of concrete) plus a feeder material. When water infiltrates concrete, the spores are activated and convert the feed into limestone, sealing the crack and preventing larger cracks from forming.
Microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete-development specialist Eric Schlangen have been working on the project since 2006. Basements, tunnels, and transportation infrastructure are among the proposed wet environments that could benefit from the innovation, which may be commercialized in four to five years. Scientists from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are now cooperating in the project.
(http://www.citg.tudelft.nl//index.php?id=17205)
Dutch microbiologist Henk Jonkers explains "bioconcrete" technology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PyBR3PDPa-c
Related Stories
| Dec 10, 2013
16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors
From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.
| Nov 27, 2013
Wonder walls: 13 choices for the building envelope
BD+C editors present a roundup of the latest technologies and applications in exterior wall systems, from a tapered metal wall installation in Oklahoma to a textured precast concrete solution in North Carolina.
| Nov 19, 2013
Top 10 green building products for 2014
Assa Abloy's power-over-ethernet access-control locks and Schüco's retrofit façade system are among the products to make BuildingGreen Inc.'s annual Top-10 Green Building Products list.
| Sep 26, 2013
Sheep's wool insulation, bio-brick among Cradle to Cradle product innovation finalists
Ten finalists are competing for $250,000 in prizes from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Make It Right.
| Jul 19, 2013
Best in brick: 7 stunning building façades made with brick [slideshow]
The Brick Industry Association named the winners of its 2013 Brick in Architecture Awards. Here are seven winning projects that caught our eye.
| May 14, 2013
CalStar products adds second shift to manufacturing plant
Increasing demand for CalStar’s sustainably manufactured bricks, pavers, Thru-Wall units, and wet cast products brings 17 new jobs to Racine area.
| Apr 19, 2013
Must see: Shell of gutted church on stilts, 40 feet off the ground
Construction crews are going to extremes to save the ornate brick façade of the Provo (Utah) Tabernacle temple, which was ravaged by a fire in December 2010.
| Apr 3, 2013
AIA CES class: Sealant repairs that last – hybrid sealants for building restoration
It is hard to talk about restoration without talking about sustainability. This two-hour interactive online course discusses the role that restoration can and does play in the arena of sustainability, and specifically the role that sealants play in sustainable design and repair.
| Mar 29, 2013
Shenzhen projects halted as Chinese officials find substandard concrete
Construction on multiple projects in Guangdong Province—including the 660-m Ping'an Finance Center—has been halted after inspectors in Shenzhen, China, have found at least 15 local plants producing concrete with unprocessed sea sand, which undermines building stabity.
