Healing Concrete Cracks with Bacterial ‘Blood

Building better with living organisms.

Have you heard about the cutting-edge technology that is breathing new life into the concrete industry? Researchers at Drexel University have come up with a way to extend the lifespan of this essential building material and reduce its environmental impact using real-time repair mechanisms based on strategies found in the human body.

Concrete is the second most consumed material on Earth, and its manufacturing process generates enormous carbon emissions. However, a new polymer “BioFiber” coated in bacteria-infused hydrogel could be a game-changer. These BioFibers, arranged in layers of grid patterns, serve as a reinforcing additive for concrete, and when they start to falter, they begin to shine.

Self-healing concrete. Yes, you read that right. The BioFibers are embedded with bacteria that can repair concrete when it breaks under stress. Water from the outside environment activates the bacteria, which then pushes out towards the surface, filling and hardening cracks in the concrete within just two days.

Conventional concrete technology, move aside. We may be on the verge of building with materials that can heal themselves, reducing the need for additional, climate-costly concrete and giving us more bang for the buck.