Laboratory Assessment of a Self-Healing Cementitious Composite

This paper presents work in the laboratory assessment of a new family of self-healing materials that hold promise for “crack-free” concrete or other cementitious composites. This innovative system features the design of passive smart microcapsules (PSMs) with oil core and silica gel shell, prepared through an interfacial self-assembly process and sol–gel reaction. Methylmethacrylate monomer and triethylborane were chosen as the healing agent and the catalyst for use in the system and were microencapsulated. The microcapsules were subsequently dispersed in fresh cement mortar along with carbon microfibers. The morphology of the microcapsules was examined by using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Mechanical tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out to evaluate the self-healing effect of PSMs and the possible physicochemical changes or interactions in the carbon microfiber–reinforced mortar matrix.