Researchers at Binghamton and Rutgers Universities, USA, have developed a self-healing fungi concrete mix that could help solve the issue of crumbling infrastructure – caused by cracks in the structure’s concrete. The team received support from the Research Foundation for the State University of New York’s Sustainable Community Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence Program.
Assistant Professor Congrui Jin, Binghamton University, commented, ‘Without proper treatment, cracks tend to progress further and eventually require costly repair […] If micro-cracks expand and reach the steel reinforcement, not only the concrete will be attacked, but also the reinforcement will be corroded, as it is exposed to water, oxygen, possibly CO2 and chlorides, leading to structural failure.’
The team found that mixing Trichoderma reesei – a fungus – with the concrete could solve this issue. The fungus lies dormant in the mix until water and oxygen reach it through cracks in the concrete.
‘With enough water and oxygen, the dormant fungal spores will germinate, grow and precipitate calcium carbonate to heal the cracks,’ commented Jin. ‘When the cracks are completely filled and ultimately no more water or oxygen can enter inside, the fungi will again form spores. As the environmental conditions become favorable in later stages, the spores could be wakened again.’
Further research is needed to ensure the fungus can survive in the concrete mix.
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