Self-healing concrete

Self-healing concrete...... Embed a microencapsulated sodium silicate healing agent directly into a concrete matrix. When tiny stress cracks begin to form in the concrete, the capsules rupture and release the healing agent into the adjacent areas.The sodium silicate reacts with the calcium hydroxide naturally present in the concrete to form a calcium-silica-hydrate product to heal the cracks and block the pores in the concrete. The chemical reaction creates a gel-like material that hardens in about one week.                                         One additional advantage to the use of self-healing concrete is that it could reduce the significant CO₂ emissions that result from concrete production. Because the production of concrete is very energy intensive -- when mining, transportation and concrete plants are considered  If self-healing concrete can lengthen the life of the concrete and reduce maintenance and repairs, it will ultimately reduce the production of excess amounts of concrete and result in a decrease in CO₂ emissions.