Self Healing Concrete

Abstract

The concrete is the most commonly use material all over the world. Concrete has the drawback of minor cracks due to certain factors like temperature, saline effect, high tensile strength etc. The concrete micro cracking leads to the failure of structure and reduces its durability and strength when steel exposed to air. To overcome the carbon release in environment by reducing the use of cement in cracking and also reducing the harmful chemicals which are injurious to health would be reduced to great extent. The filling of cracks by bacterial action induced calcium carbonate precipitation as a preventive measure for micro cracking. This method is now well developed with advance laboratory research in combination of bacteria and concrete. The scour (calcium Lactate) are added with mortar on which the bacteria use to react and forms limestone is calcium carbonate (CaCO3) so the by-product which form has a calcium compound. The bacteria used are ‘bacillus pseudofirmus’ scientifically called ‘sporosarcina pasteurii’ mixed with sand and cement. Other benefits of microbiologically induced bacteria are that it works on different organic matter like birds excreta found on concrete buildings. The strength of concrete do not get affected by it. This review paper deals the application & merits for concrete for increasing life span of concrete. The micro-cracks get filled by itself hence this type of concrete is called ‘self-healing concrete.