Scientists Develop Type of 'Living Concrete' That Heals Its Own Cracks

Scientists Develop Type of ‘Living Concrete’ That Heals Its Own Cracks

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 02/06/2025 at 06:29

Updated on 02/06/2025 at 06:31

Foto: Reprodução

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Researchers Develop Concrete That Uses Synthetic Lichen to Repair Cracks Automatically, Without the Need for Human Maintenance

Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in the world, but it has a known fragility: its low tensile strength. This makes it prone to cracks, requiring constant maintenance. Now, scientists have taken an important step to solve this problem by developing a type of concrete that regenerates itself.

A Solution Inspired by Nature

The research was led by engineer mechanic Congrui Grace Jin, from Texas A&M University. The team created an innovative concrete capable of filling its own cracks using the power of synthetic lichen. This new approach promises to overcome the limitations faced by previous methods of “living” concrete with bacteria.

For decades, scientists have investigated the use of microorganisms to repair concrete. However, these attempts required manual feeding, with external nutrient supply. “None of the current self-healing approaches are fully autonomous, as they require an external nutrient supply for the healing agents to continuously produce repair materials,” explains Jin.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

The Functioning of Customized Lichen

Lichens are organisms formed by a symbiotic association between fungi and cyanobacteria or algae. Based on this, the researchers designed a customized lichen.

In it, the cyanobacteria fix carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the atmosphere, while the fungus attracts ionized calcium, facilitating the production of calcium carbonate.

This calcium carbonate is the same material found in eggshells, marine shells, corals, and chalk. In laboratory tests, the lichen was able to fill in the cracks by depositing large amounts of this substance, sealing the fissures and preventing their advance.

Advantages Over Previous Methods

Unlike bacteria, lichen does not require human intervention to function.

It works continuously and independently, without the need for spraying nutrients or constant monitoring. Thus, it offers a practical and sustainable alternative for concrete repair.

The team now intends to advance research to understand how the lichen behaves in the presence of existing cracks. The goal is to verify its effectiveness in varied conditions and assess its potential on a larger scale.

Potential to Increase the Durability of Structures

This new regenerative concrete could help extend the lifespan of concrete structures worldwide. As the researchers highlight: “The results demonstrated the potential to create a stable phototrophic-heterotrophic system for self-sustaining concrete repair.”

The findings were published in the journal Materials Today Communications and represent a new frontier in construction.

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Scientists Develop Type of ‘Living Concrete’ That Heals Its Own Cracks

Researchers Develop Concrete That Uses Synthetic Lichen to Repair Cracks Automatically, Without the Need for Human Maintenance

A Solution Inspired by Nature

The Functioning of Customized Lichen

Advantages Over Previous Methods

Potential to Increase the Durability of Structures

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Scientists Develop Type of ‘Living Concrete’ That Heals Its Own Cracks

Researchers Develop Concrete That Uses Synthetic Lichen to Repair Cracks Automatically, Without the Need for Human Maintenance

A Solution Inspired by Nature

The Functioning of Customized Lichen

Advantages Over Previous Methods

Potential to Increase the Durability of Structures

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