The Future of Infrastructure Maintenance: Conventional Repairs or Microbial Concrete?
Conventional methods for repairing concrete structures are widely used due to their reliability and ability to repair microcrack structures, provide immediate relief to damaged areas, or allow the structure to regain temporary operational capacity, making it extensively used. The repair materials, such as epoxy resin and modified cement slurry, are commonly applied to restore damaged regions. However, concrete structures generally need to be inspected and maintained regularly by construction staff. In addition, conventional crack repair is usually carried out only after visible damage appears, which means the deterioration may already have occurred before human intervention begins.
Microbial concrete is a material capable of autonomously repairing microcracks without human intervention. The bacteria are encapsulated in the material, and when released from the protective capsule, they become metabolically active and induce microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which is the self-healing mechanism of the material. External forces cause microcracks to form and water and oxygen penetrate into the concrete. At the same time, the bacteria are metabolically active and cause MICP. The growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) fills and seals the microcracks. The self-healing process decreases the ingress of harmful acidic liquid through microcracks and can be used to improve the durability of the concrete structure.
By extending the service life of structures, microbial concrete can contribute to the goal of sustainable construction. It can substantially reduce the frequency of building maintenance and material replacement, thereby decreasing resource consumption, minimizing construction waste, and reducing the environmental impacts associated with building and infrastructure maintenance. As cities continue to expand and existing infrastructure gradually ages, the use of such green building materials will become an important strategy for sustainable urban development.
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