Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
1 comment 
Researchers from Tokyo University Discovered That Nuclear Radiation Can Trigger a Self-Repairing Effect in Concrete, Making Its Structures More Resistant and Durable in Nuclear Power Plants. This Advance Could Revolutionize Engineering and Prolong the Useful Life of These Constructions.
Let’s face it: concrete is everywhere. Streets, buildings, bridges, and even in places we don’t even imagine, like nuclear power plants. And when we talk about nuclear energy, the first thing that comes to mind is safety. After all, any structural failure can have catastrophic consequences.
For decades, engineers have been wondering: does radiation affect concrete to the point of weakening it? The fear is real, as nuclear structures need to last for decades without compromising safety. But now, a study from Tokyo University brought a surprising discovery: instead of deteriorating the material, radiation may actually make it stronger. That’s right, concrete may have a hidden superpower.
The Radiation That Heals Concrete
It all started when the researchers decided to investigate the impact of radiation on concrete, more specifically on quartz, one of its main components. The expectation was to find signs of wear, but what they saw was something completely unexpected: the concrete was, in a way, “healing” itself.
-
Forget concrete: architects are replacing tons of concrete with giant blocks of expanded polystyrene to build the roofs of houses and reduce structural weight by up to 50%, cut costs, improve thermal insulation, and speed up construction.
-
The Brazilian state enters the center of the global race for critical minerals by starting the construction of the largest underground nickel mine in Latin America, a mineral essential for electric car batteries that the entire world is competing for at this moment.
-
New CCR concrete paving technology promises roads up to 3x more durable, less maintenance, and cost reduction in Brazil.
-
Made from recycled plastic, plastic wood is gaining space in the construction industry because it does not rot, resists moisture, and reduces maintenance costs over the years.
What happens is that radiation interacts with quartz crystals, distorting their structure. However, instead of simply cracking and weakening, the material activates an internal recovery mechanism. In other words, it kind of adjusts itself, compensating for the damage.
It’s like having a glass that, instead of cracking and breaking, is capable of regenerating when exposed to the sun. Amazing, right?
How Radiation Works in This Case?
Neutron radiation hits the quartz crystals in the concrete and disrupts their structure. Normally, this would cause expansion and weakening. But what scientists discovered is that, thanks to the interaction between silicon and oxygen atoms, the material undergoes a “healing” process that reduces these negative effects.
Basically, radiation messes with quartz, but the quartz itself finds a way to reorganize and recover. The result? Concrete may end up lasting much longer than we imagined, especially in high radiation environments such as nuclear power plants.
Will Concrete Become a Self-Repairing Material?
If this discovery is confirmed in new studies, we are talking about a true game changer for civil engineering. Maintaining nuclear structures is an expensive and complex job, and any crack can become a significant problem. Now, imagine if we have concrete that fixes itself? That would be quite an advance!
And it’s not just in the nuclear sector that this could make a difference. The construction industry as a whole could benefit from this technology to create buildings, bridges, and even highways that require less maintenance. Can you imagine a world where concrete repairs become a thing of the past?
Tá, funciona com usinas nucleares, até porquê, aquilo esta encapsulado e a irradiação acontece, querendo ou não. Mas não dá para ficar irradiando com nêutrons pontes, prédios e outras obras por aí só pela manutenção.
Concreto armado tem suas patologias bem conhecidas e, portanto, tem suas técnicas de manutenção bem estabelecidas. Se uma cultura de manutenção fosse bem difundida não haveria necessidade de maia nada. O concreto é muito durável, desde que bem conservado.
(Pontes como aquela que colapsou na região amazônica no final do ano não cairam por falta de irradiar nêutrons mas por descaso do poder público com com a manutenção tradicional mesmo.)