CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITE MATERIALS WITH IMPROVED SELF-HEALING POTENTIAL

Cement-based composites have proved, over the time, certain abilities of self-healing the damages (cracks and especially microcracs) that occur within their structure. Depending on the level of damage and of the composite type in which this occurs, the self-healing process (SH) can range from crack closing or crack sealing to the stage of partial or even complete recovery of material physical-mechanical properties. The aim of this article is to present the general concept of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) with their unique properties including their SH capacity, as an innovative direction for a global sustainable infrastructure. The experimental steps initiated for the development in Romania of this unique category of materials, using materials available on the local market, are also presented.