scholarly journals Evaluation of the Self-Healing Ability of Mortar Mixtures Containing Superabsorbent Polymers and Nanosilica

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerlinde Lefever ◽  
Didier Snoeck ◽  
Dimitrios G. Aggelis ◽  
Nele De Belie ◽  
Sandra Van Vlierberghe ◽  
...  

Addition of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) to cementitious mixtures promotes the self-healing ability of the material. When cracking occurs; SAPs present inside the crack will swell upon contact with water and subsequently release this water to stimulate the further hydration of unhydrated cement particles and the calcium carbonate crystallization. However; the inclusion of SAPs affects the mechanical performance of the cementitious material by the creation of macro-pores as water is retracted from the swollen SAP. To counteract the reduction in strength, part of the cement is replaced by nanosilica. In this research, different mixtures containing either SAPs or nanosilica and a combination of both were made. The samples were subjected to wet–dry cycles simulating external conditions, and the self-healing efficiency was evaluated by means of the evolution in crack width, by optical measurements, and a water permeability test. In samples containing SAPs, an immediate sealing effect was observed and visual crack closure was noticed. The smaller influence on the mechanical properties and the good healing characteristics in mixtures containing both nanosilica and SAPs are promising as a future material for use in building applications.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Snoeck

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are promising admixtures to improve properties in cementitious materials. Not only useful to mitigate autogenous shrinkage and to increase the freeze-thaw resistance, SAP particles may enhance self-sealing and self-healing in cementitious materials. The self-sealing leads to a regain in water tightness and promoted autogenous healing may prove to be useful to limit repair works caused by concrete cracking. By providing sufficient building blocks for healing, limiting the crack width by means of synthetic microfibers and inducing water by means of SAPs, a smart cementitious material is obtained. This material can be an excellent material to use in future building applications such as tunnel works and ground-retaining structures. This paper gives an overview of the current status of the research on SAPs in cementitious materials to obtain sealing and healing.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Shamsul Farid Samsudin ◽  
Norfarah Diana Aba ◽  
Muzdalifah Zakaria ◽  
Azmi Mohammed Nor ◽  
Russell Varley ◽  
...  

Abstract Polymer coatings, especially epoxy and polyurethane paint systems, have been widely used to prevent corrosion of metallic components and structures. However, due to environmental and mechanical effects, the barrier efficiency of the coatings may be substantially compromised during transportation and service, as demonstrated by localized scratches, delamination, or stress-related microcracks. Application of a self-healing coating that can restore damages and recover its performance with minimal external intervention could prevent corrosion at the damaged coating. In this present work, the healing efficiency and long-term durability of Boronic Ester (BE) blended with Polyurethane (PU) as a self-healing system for top side coating of offshore platform structures was investigated. The BE was mixed at a ratio of 50:50 with PU resin and applied as a top layer on a PU coated steel plate with a thickness of approximately 300-350 μm. The healing efficiency, mechanical performance, and durability under simulated environmental conditions such as salt spray and UV were investigated according to the related ASTM standards. As a first step, the electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and 3D profilemeter microscope were used to assess the healing ability of the scratched coating at room temperature and humidity level of 85 %. The mechanical performance of the self-healing coating layer was evaluated using a pull off adhesion test to investigate the compatibility of the self-healing system with the existing commercial PU topcoat system, while a long term 3000 hours salt spray and 4200 hours cyclic UV test were performed to evaluate the self-healing coating's durability in harsh conditions. Preliminary assessment using EIS and 3D profilemeter microscopes on the scratched PU/BE self-healing coating revealed significant healing efficiency of more than 80% for healing condition at ambient temperature and humidity level of 85%. The self-healing coating layer also demonstrated excellent adhesion efficiency, with adhesion greater than 300 psi suggesting good compatibility of the BE-PU layer with commercial PU coating. The salt spray and cyclic UV tests that were performed to determine the durability of the self-healing coating revealed that the 50BE/50PU layer remained intact and exhibited good healing performance with more than 80% efficiency even after exposure to harsh conditions. The findings from the study demonstrated that the BE/PU material has the potential to be used as a self-healing system for topside coating of offshore platforms structures, thereby lowering maintenance costs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 700
Author(s):  
Irene A. Kanellopoulou ◽  
Ioannis A. Kartsonakis ◽  
Costas A. Charitidis

Cementitious structures have prevailed worldwide and are expected to exhibit further growth in the future. Nevertheless, cement cracking is an issue that needs to be addressed in order to enhance structure durability and sustainability especially when exposed to aggressive environments. The purpose of this work was to examine the impact of the Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs) incorporation into cementitious composite materials (mortars) with respect to their structure (hybrid structure consisting of organic core—inorganic shell) and evaluate the microstructure and self-healing properties of the obtained mortars. The applied SAPs were tailored to maintain their functionality in the cementitious environment. Control and mortar/SAPs specimens with two different SAPs concentrations (1 and 2% bwoc) were molded and their mechanical properties were determined according to EN 196-1, while their microstructure and self-healing behavior were evaluated via microCT. Compressive strength, a key property for mortars, which often degrades with SAPs incorporation, in this work, practically remained intact for all specimens. This is coherent with the porosity reduction and the narrower range of pore size distribution for the mortar/SAPs specimens as determined via microCT. Moreover, the self-healing behavior of mortar-SAPs specimens was enhanced up to 60% compared to control specimens. Conclusively, the overall SAPs functionality in cementitious-based materials was optimized.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Hungria ◽  
Momen Mousa ◽  
Marwa Hassan ◽  
Omar Omar ◽  
Andrea Gavilanes ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Calabrese ◽  
Pasquale Longo ◽  
Carlo Naddeo ◽  
Annaluisa Mariconda ◽  
Luigi Vertuccio ◽  
...  

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the relevant role of the stereochemistry of two Ruthenium catalysts on the self-healing efficiency of aeronautical resins.Design/methodology/approachHere, a very detailed evaluation on the stereochemistry of two new ruthenium catalysts evidences the crucial role of the spatial orientation of phenyl groups in the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in determining the temperature range within the curing cycles is feasible without deactivating the self-healing mechanisms (ring-opening metathesis polymerization reactions) inside the thermosetting resin. The exceptional activity and thermal stability of the HG2MesPhSyncatalyst, with the syn orientation of phenyl groups, highlight the relevant potentiality and the future perspectives of this complex for the activation of the self-healing function in aeronautical resins.FindingsThe HG2MesPhSyncomplex, with the syn orientation of the phenyl groups, is able to activate metathesis reactions within the highly reactive environment of the epoxy thermosetting resins, cured up to 180°C, while the other stereoisomer, with the anti-orientation of the phenyl groups, does not preserve its catalytic activity in these conditions.Originality/valueIn this paper, a comparison between the self-healing functionality of two catalytic systems has been performed, using metathesis tests and FTIR spectroscopy. In the field of the design of catalytic systems for self-healing structural materials, a very relevant result has been found: a slight difference in the molecular stereochemistry plays a key role in the development of self-healing materials for aeronautical and aerospace applications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Ekaputri ◽  
M S Anam ◽  
Y Luan ◽  
C Fujiyama ◽  
N Chijiwa ◽  
...  

Cracks are caused by many factors. Shrinkage and external loading are the most common reason. It becomes a problem when the ingression of aggressive and harmful substance penetrates to the concrete gap. This problem reduces the durability of the structures. It is well known that self – healing of cracks significantly improves the durability of the concrete structure. This paper presents self-healing cracks of cement paste containing bentonite associated with ground granulated blast furnace slag. The self-healing properties were evaluated with four parameters: crack width on the surface, crack depth, tensile strength recovery, and flexural recovery. In combination with microscopic observation, a healing process over time is also performed. The results show that bentonite improves the healing properties, in terms of surface crack width and crack depth. On the other hand, GGBFS could also improve the healing process, in terms of crack depth, direst tensile recovery, and flexural stiffness recovery. Carbonation reaction is believed as the main mechanism, which contributes the self-healing process as well as the continuous hydration progress.


Author(s):  
Liangliang Xia ◽  
Ming Zhou ◽  
Hongjun Tu ◽  
wen Zeng ◽  
xiaoling Yang ◽  
...  

The preparation of room-temperature self-healing polymeric materials with good healing efficiency and high mechanical strength is challenging. Two processes are essential to realise the room-temperature self-healing of materials: (a) a...


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 103718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyue Wu ◽  
Xiangming Hu ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Weimin Cheng ◽  
Di Xue ◽  
...  

Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 543
Author(s):  
Dong-Min Kim ◽  
Junseo Lee ◽  
Ju-Young Choi ◽  
Seung-Won Jin ◽  
Kyeong-Nam Nam ◽  
...  

Although self-healing protective coatings have been widely studied, systematic research on healing performance of the coating according to damage width has been rare. In addition, there has been rare reports of self-healing of the protective coating having damage width wider than 100 µm. In this study, self-healing performance of a microcapsule type self-healing protective coating on cement mortar was studied for the coating with damage width of 100–300 µm. The effect of capsule-loading (20 wt%, 30 wt% and 40 wt%), capsule size (65-, 102- and 135-µm-mean diameter) and coating thickness (50-, 80- and 100-µm-thick undercoating) on healing efficiency was investigated by water sorptivity test. Accelerated carbonation test, chloride ion penetration test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) study were conducted for the self-healing coating with a 300-µm-wide damage. Healing efficiency of the self-healing coating decreased with increasing damage width. As capsule-loading, capsule size or coating thickness increased, healing efficiency of the self-healing coating increased. Healing efficiency of 76% or higher was achieved using the self-healing coating with a 300-µm-wide scratch. The self-healing coating with a 200-µm-wide crack showed healing efficiency of 70% or higher. The self-healing coating having a 300-µm-wide scratch showed effective protection of the substrate mortar from carbonation and chloride ion penetration, which was supported by SEM study.


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