Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Microcapsule-Based Self-Healing Cementitious Composites

Self-healing concrete designs can protect against deterioration and improve durability. However, there is no unified conclusion regarding the effective preparation and mechanical properties of self-healing concrete. In this paper, microcapsules are used in cement-based materials, the reasonable dosage of microcapsules is determined, and the self-healing performance of the microcapsule self-healing system under different curing agents is explored. The microcapsules and curing agent are shown to enhance the flexural and compressive strength of mortar specimens at relatively low contents. The optimal microcapsule content in terms of compressive strength is 1–3%. When the content of the microcapsule reaches 7%, the strength of the specimen decreases by approximately 30%. Sodium fluorosilicate is better-suited to the microcapsule self-healing cement-based system than the other two fluorosilicates, potassium fluorosilicate and magnesium, which have similarly poor healing performance as curing agents. Healing time also appears to significantly influence the microcapsule self-healing system; mortar specimens that healed for 28 days are significantly higher than those that healed for 7 days. This work may provide a valuable reference for the design and preparation of self-healing cementitious composite structures.