EVALUATION OF THE SELF-HEALING EFFECT ON CEMENT MATRIXES BY SURFACE APPLICATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL AGENT Oomycete Pythium aphanidermatum
Self-healing. Cementitious matrix. Biological agent. Oomicetum pythium aphidermatum
Self-repairing concrete based on biological agents has emerged as a promising alternative in the construction sector, due to the reduction in cement production and the extension of the useful life of structures. However, to date, no known biological agent shows favorable results, so the search for new materials continues. This work aims to study the self-healing process of cementitious matrices through the formation of microstructures generated by the biological agent Oomycetum Pythium aphidermatum. The methodology of the study will consist of two parts; the first part will cover the study of the effect of biomineralization with the biological agent and its potential use in self-healing concretes, a process in which the ideal amount of nutrient volume mixed with the calcium source and the concentration of spores to obtain a self-healing effect in a cementitious matrix will be identified. The second part will evaluate the self-healing effect in cementitious matrices through the surface application of the biological agent. It is hoped that the results of the study can be taken into consideration for the development of self-healing cementitious matrices, offering an innovative and sustainable approach to construction.