Impact of Bio-Carrier Immobilized with Marine Bacteria on Self-Healing Performance of Cement-Based Materials.

The present study evaluated the self-healing efficiency and mechanical properties of mortar specimens incorporating a bio-carrier as a self-healing agent. The bio-carrier was produced by immobilizing ureolytic bacteria isolated from seawater in bottom ash, followed by surface coating with cement powder to prevent loss of nutrients during the mixing process. Five types of specimens were prepared with two methods of incorporating bacteria, and were water cured for 28 days. To investigate the healing ratio, the specimens with predefined cracks were treated by applying a wet-dry cycle in three different conditions, i.e., seawater, tap water, and air for 28 days. In addition, a compression test and a mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis of the specimens were performed to evaluate their physico-mechanical properties. The obtained results showed that the specimen incorporating the bio-carrier had higher compressive strength than the specimen incorporating vegetative cells. Furthermore, the highest healing ratio was observed in specimens incorporating the bio-carrier. This phenomenon could be ascribed by the enhanced bacterial viability by the bio-carrier.

Effect of CaSO4 Incorporation on Pore Structure and Drying Shrinkage of Alkali-Activated Binders.

This present study investigates the effects of CaSO4 incorporation on the pore structure and drying shrinkage of alkali-activated slag and fly ash. The slag and fly ash were activated at a 5:5 ratio by weighing with a sodium silicate. Thereafter, 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of CaSO4 were incorporated to investigate the changes in phase formation and internal pore structure. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG)/derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and drying shrinkage tests were carried out to find the correlation between the pore structure and drying shrinkage of the specimens. The results showed that CaSO4 incorporation increased the formation of thenardite, and these phase changes affected the pore structure of the activated fly ash and slag. The increase in the CaSO4 content increased the pore distribution in the mesopore. As a result, the capillary tension and drying shrinkage decreased.