Microorganisms - healers of concrete structures
Concrete is considered one of the ancient building materials on the Earth. Despite its thousand-years age, it has one major weak point. The loss of internal moisture leads to appearing cracks on the surface of concrete structures, causing eventually more serious damage and requiring expensive repairs.
Researchers from Binghamton, Rutgers and New York State Universities try to find the science-based approach to this problem. They draw the parallels between regeneration processes in living organisms and the likely healing of the building material, and an unusual solution was found - the fungus Trichoderma reesei.
It is proposed to add this microorganism to the concrete mix. Fungus, while in a sleeping spore state, remains inactive until the first cracks appear.
The penetrating oxygen and moisture germinate spores, while calcium carbonate is released. This substance tightens the cracks, and the fungi, after completing their work, again fall asleep.
The survivability of a fungus supplement under more severe environment have not been determined yet, but there is a hope that further biological adjustments would allow Trichoderma reesei to be used in the industrial production of self-healing concrete.
Source: ScienceDaily
