Sci/Tech Experimental concrete that patches up cracks by itself is to undergo outdoor testing.

[tom_mai78101]

The concrete contains limestone-producing bacteria, which are activated by corrosive rainwater working its way into the structure.

The new material could potentially increase the service life of the concrete - with considerable cost savings as a result.

The work is taking place at Delft Technical University, the Netherlands.

It is the brainchild of microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete technologist Eric Schlangen.

If all goes well, Dr Jonkers says they could start the process of commercialising the system in 2-3 years.

Key test for re-healable concrete

Experimental concrete that patches up cracks by itself is to undergo outdoor testing.

www.bbc.com

 

[camelCase]

So..
If the bacteria dies out because of a drought?

How long can they remain dormant before dying? o.0

 

[FireCat]

Cool!

 

[camelCase]

Cool!

No, it isn't.
This is bacterial slavery.

You trap them in concrete prisons and free them years later, only to force feed them calcium and make them work to fix little cracks in your walls, floors and ceilings.

You make me sick, approving of this.

 

[FireCat]

No, it isn't.

Hmm So you say "This harmless bacteria" isn't cool?

 

[Varine]

I concur with Sir Camel Case. This is a shallow and pedantic attempt to force through a bill to re-introduce slavery into the household items of use based on the statistical national averages of homeowner neglect. In addition, these 'bacteria' can be used in the manufacture of meth and therefore need to be banned immediately.

 

[Accname]

[...]
In addition, these 'bacteria' can be used in the manufacture of meth and therefore need to be banned immediately.

Stop using that racial slur you monster!

 

[Darkrider]

OMG Bacteria slavery, how about bacteria mass murder in milk industry? or bacteria slavery followed by death in cheese industry!! we even abuse them with almost no pay to make penicillin!!.

 

[FireCat]

Yeah ^ It's such a cruel, sad, mean world.

 

[SouLEDGE]

Shame, I think you guys have confused FireCat
On the other hand, I shall rule these disgusting bacteria with an iron fist.
I'll make them fix my walls, floors and anything else those guys in the
Netherlands can think of!

 

[Accname]

Shame, I think you guys have confused FireCat
On the other hand, I shall rule these disgusting bacteria with an iron fist.
I'll make them fix my walls, floors and anything else those guys in the
Netherlands can think of!

Dont say that, the netherlands are a creepy place, folks from down there can think of a couple of really scary things.

 

[Varine]

OMG Bacteria slavery, how about bacteria mass murder in milk industry? or bacteria slavery followed by death in cheese industry!! we even abuse them with almost no pay to make penicillin!!.

What!? How can I have never heard of this before? Tell me more about this! We most free these slaved bacterias!

 

[FireCat]

Did you know that "Bacteria can communicate" with each other and with other species as well.

Nah @SouLEDGE

 

[Varine]

How do they communicate, by making you sick?

 

[FireCat]

How do bacteria communicate?

You've probably heard animal noises that indicated some form of communication, but it wasn't until fairly recently that we learned that even some of the smallest organisms on Earth, bacteria, can communicate with each other. In the 1960s, researchers observed that bacteria known as Vibrio fischeri exhibited greater amounts of luminescence as the bacterial population grew. Emanating a glow takes a lot of metabolism, and the scientists determined that the bacteria were able to preserve their energy until they realized that there were enough of them to make a really good glow. Researchers called this phenomenon quorum-sensing -- the bacteria communicate to determine the size of their community.

But how? It turns out that the bacteria emit autoinducers, or signaling molecules similar to pheromones. The concentration of autoinducers in any given area indicates the size of the population. But bacteria don't just communicate with their own kind -- in recent years, scientists have determined that bacteria have a receptor for species-specific autoinducers, as well as a receptor for the signals sent out by all other kinds of bacteria. Not only does this indicate that many species of bacteria beyond the bioluminescent ones have the capability to communicate, it means that all bacteria in close proximity are probably chatting it up. Much like we account for our loved ones at the end of the day, the bacteria are taking roll as well.

 

[Sim]

Guys, let's keep the trolling down please?

You might not agree with camelCase, but there's no need to spam it over 10 posts... we got the message.

 

[camelCase]

I was a target of trolling? o.0

 

[The Helper]

I wonder what ever happened with this?

 

[jonas]

I was just going to say the same thing. I guess they either don't work well in real conditions, are too expensive, or would harm a huge industry.

 

[tom_mai78101]

I wonder what ever happened with this?

I was just going to say the same thing. I guess they either don't work well in real conditions, are too expensive, or would harm a huge industry.

From what I can tell, it's on the market already:

Self-Healing Concrete Market Report, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2027

(2023 article)

According to IMARC Group’s latest report, titled “Self-Healing Concrete Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027,” the global self-healing concrete market size reached US$ 34.9 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 153.7 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 28.35% during 2022-2027.

Self-healing concrete is an artificial building material that automatically mends cracks and damages. It contains a bacterium that produces limestone, which then expands to form a gel upon coming into contact with air and water to fill gaps. Self-healing concrete closes the cracks to safeguard the steel framework from any external impacts and reduces corrosion risk. This concrete is usually available in autonomic and autogenic self-healing variants. The autogenous cement utilizes moisture to ensure the healing process, whereas the autonomous cement uses tablets containing bacteria spores or additional healing agents. Consequently, it is used extensively for constructing industrial, residential, civil, and commercial infrastructures.

Self-Healing Concrete Market Report, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2027

This Biotech Makes Self-Healing Concrete Using Bacteria

(2019 article)

Green Basilisk sells a concrete endowed with the ability to regenerate from damage in the same way that your skin scabs over scratches and scrapes. This self-healing ability is a result of embedding the concrete with bacteria, such as Bacillus bacteria, in the form of spores. The bacterial spores are hardy extremophiles, able to endure heat, drought and cold for years inside the concrete.

Founded near to Delft in 2015, Green Basilisk collaborated with the Dutch chemicals company Corbion to develop the self-healing concrete. The company now sells it to construction companies mixing the concrete, and expects to generate €1M in revenue in the coming year.

One obstacle to introducing new forms of concrete has been the conservative attitude of the construction industry. For example, an environmentally friendly form of concrete produced by the US company Greenstone Technologies has found little interest since the founding of the company in 2012.

This Biotech Makes Self-Healing Concrete Using Bacteria

The Dutch biotech Green Basilisk is making self-healing concrete a reality by embedding special limestone-producing bacteria into the concrete.

www.labiotech.eu

The company in question:

Basilisk Self-Healing Concrete

Met zelfhelend beton van Basilisk Self-Healing Concrete bespaart u op krimpwapening, CO2 en onderhoud. Bovendien is het waterdicht.

basiliskconcrete.com