Design and Performance of Rapid Response Self-healing Microcapsule for Waterproof Mortar
SHEN Yichao
OUYANG Hanliang
WANG Yan
GAO Jian
WANG Ruixing
Abstract：A novel self-healing microcapsule with a diameter of 3.0 to 3.5 mm was developed to tackle the lifespan issues due to waterproof mortar cracking.The core of the microcapsule was composed of magnesium phosphate cement,sodium alginate,and polyethylene glycol,encapsulated within a shell of epoxy resin composite sulfoaluminate cement.The self-healing microcapsules were incorporated into the cement mortar,and their self-healing effects and mechanisms were studied.The results indicate that the self-healing microcapsules exhibit good waterproof and alkali-resistant properties,facilitating the formation of a cohesive interfacial transition zone with the silicate-based substrate and directing crack propagation along their surface.Upon damage,the sodium alginate component within the microcapsules undergoes rapid hydration-induced swelling upon contact with water,forming a robust hydrogel network structure with an expansion area exceeding 200%within 15 minutes,thereby forming the initial sealing of cracks.Subsequently,the magnesium phosphate cement undergoes hydration within the hydrogel matrix,continuously reinforcing the crack sealing process.These innovative microcapsules demonstrate the capability to repair cracks with widths of up to 200 μm within a period of 3 days and cracks as wide as 450 μm within 7 days.Furthermore,the impermeability of self-healing microcapsules can be restored to 76%within 7 days,highlighting their rapid and highly efficient self-healing.
Keywords：self-healing microcapsulesodium alginatemagnesium phosphate cementwaterproof mortarrapid response
Publication Date：2025-04-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 367-374 )