NEW MATERIALS

The same scientific research that has led to super-high performance materials over the years is now focusing on super-flexible, super-adaptable materials, including substances that repair themselves.

Self-Healing Concrete

Chan-Moon Chung, Yonsei University,
South Korea, 2012

A group of scientists in South Korea guided by Chan-Moon Chung has invented a self-healing concrete for road pavements. The secret lies in a protective coating that contains microcapsules of a material that seals cracks; when a crack forms, the microcapsules break open and release the repair solution, filling in the damage. Use of the material permits drastic reduction of road repairs and replacement of pavements, lowering costs and environmental impact.
www.yonsei.ac.kr