Feasibility and Compatibility of a Biomass Capsule System in Self-Healing Concrete

Cracking can facilitate deteriorations of concrete structures via various mechanisms by providing ingress pathways for moisture and aggressive chemicals. In contrast to conventional maintenance methods, self-healing is a promising strategy for achieving automatic crack repair without human intervention. However, in capsule-based self-healing concrete, the dilemma between capsules’ survivability and crack healing efficiency is still an unfathomed challenge. In this study, the feasibility of a novel property-switchable capsule system based on a sustainable biomass component, polylactic acid, is investigated. Capsules with different geometries and dimensions were studied focusing on the compatibility with concrete, including survivability during concrete mixing, influence on mortar and concrete properties, and property evolution of the capsules. The results indicate that the developed elliptical capsules can survive regular concrete mixing with a survival ratio of 95%. In concrete containing 5 vol.% of gravel-level capsules, the compressive strength was decreased by 13.5% after 90 days, while the tensile strength was increased by 4.8%. The incorporation of 2 vol.% of sand-level capsules did not impact the mortar strength. Degradation and switchable properties triggered by the alkaline matrix of cement were observed, revealing the potential of this novel biomass capsule system in achieving both high survivability and self-healing efficiency in concrete.