Self-adhesive concrete

Concrete capable of cracking itself is ready to be tested in practice, according to experts at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands).

The Dutch research team says that self-patching concrete contains limestone-producing bacteria capable of self-healing structures under the influence of rainwater.

As the work of microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete engineer Eric Schlangen, new materials can help increase the life of concrete, at a reasonable cost.

During hardening of concrete, very small cracks will appear but not directly cause the whole block of material to weaken. Over time, however, water can enter the cracks and erode concrete from within.

In an effort to improve the time spent on concrete, experts say that it is important to find a way to get rid of these cracks, according to the BBC.

Bacterial spores and nutrients are added to the concrete during the mixing process, but they will not function until the rain falls into the crevices and triggers the production of limestone.