Effect of Recycled Brick Aggregate Loaded with Microorganisms on Crack Self-Healing of Cement-Based Materials

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.0871

Abstract

Abstract:

Microbial-induced mineralization precipitation （MICP） is applied in cement-based materials primarily by utilizing microorganisms to react with calcium sources to generate calcium carbonate， thereby achieving the self-healing of cracks in cement-based materials. However， practical application of MICP is limited by the living environment of microorganisms. In this study， recycled brick aggregate （RBA） was used as the carrier material to investigate the crack self-healing effect of microorganisms on cement-based materials under the induction of Ca2?/Mg2? loaded on RBA. Modern testing methods such as inductively coupled plasma （ICP）， X-ray diffraction （XRD）， and scanning electron microscope （SEM） were adopted to systematically explore the effect mechanism. The results show that the addition of Mg²⁺ increases mineralization rate of microorganisms within a certain range. When the RBA content is 60% （mass fraction）， it has little effect on the strength of cement-based materials. The crack healing rate of the crack initial width 110.98 μm specimen reaches 97.7%， and the water absorption rate decreases by 63.6%. The crack healing rate of the crack initial width 167.61 μm specimen can reaches 96.4%， and the water absorption rate decreases by 76.4%. When cement-based material generates cracks， the calcium carbonate precipitation generated by the induced mineralization of microorganisms can effectively fill the cracks， ultimately realizing the self-healing of cracks in cement-based materials.

Key words: cement-based material, recycled brick aggregate, load, microbial, induced mineralization, crack, self-healing

CLC Number:

TU528

ZHAO Xiaomeng, ZONG Xudong, YANG Yijie, WANG Jie, DU Mingxing, FENG Chunhua. Effect of Recycled Brick Aggregate Loaded with Microorganisms on Crack Self-Healing of Cement-Based Materials[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(2): 426-436.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig.1 XRD pattern of RBA and gradation curves of RBA， NA

Table 1 Formula of mineralization culture medium for BS

Group	Ca²⁺ concentration/（mmol·L^-1）	Mg²⁺ concentration/（mmol·L^-1）	Peptone concentration/（g·L^-1）	Yeast concentration/（g·L^-1）	BS concentration/（CFU·L^-1）
Control	50	0	5	3	10¹²
1	50	50	5	3	10¹²
3	50	17	5	3	10¹²
5	50	10	5	3	10¹²
7	50	7	5	3	10¹²
9	50	5.5	5	3	10¹²

Fig.2 Process of making crack in self-healing specimen

Fig.3 Mineralization rate and mineral phase analysis in mineralization culture medium under different Ca/Mg molar ratios

Table 2 MgCO3 content in calcite of each group and classification of mineral phases

Ca/Mg molar ratio	d/Å	MgCO₃ content （molar fration）/%	Classification of mineral phase
Control	3.036	0	Calcite
1	3.031	1.63	Low-magnesium calcite
3	3.035	0.51	Low-magnesium calcite
5	3.036	0.07	Low-magnesium calcite
7	3.036	0.03	Low-magnesium calcite
9	3.035	0.33	Low-magnesium calcite

Fig.4 Effect of RBA dosage on compressive strength of specimens

Fig.5 Effects of various carrier materials on compressive strength of cement-based materials

Fig.6 Graphs and binarized images of crack healing effect in each group

Fig.7 Healing rate of cracks with different widths

Table 3 Number of crack healing in each group at 28 d

Crack intial width/μm		［0，100）	［100，200）	［200，300）	［300，400）	［400，∞）
Group B	Number of crack	1	9	12	1	6
Group B	Number of healing	1	7	4	0	0
Group C	Number of crack	3	9	8	4	2
Group C	Number of healing	3	7	2	0	0

Fig.8 Capillary water absorption rate after healing for each group of specimens

Fig.9 SEM image and EDS spectrum of filler material at cracks

Fig.10 Schematic diagram of crack healing process

References 24

[1]	GOUSHIS R， MINI K M. Effectiveness of polymeric and cementitious materials to secure cracks in concrete under diverse circumstances［J］. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives， 2022， 114： 103099. DOI URL
[2]	SHAIKH F U A. Effect of cracking on corrosion of steel in concrete［J］. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials， 2018， 12（1）： 3. DOI
[3]	ARUYA G A. Causes of cracks on concrete structures and repair methods， researchgate［J］. International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications， 2022， 7（9）： 28-38.
[4]	ISSA C A. 6-Methods of crack repair in concrete structures［M］// Failure， Distress and Repair of Concrete Structures. Woodhead Publishing， 2009： 169-193.
[5]	WANG Y K， CHEN Y Y， MARCHELINA N. Crack repairing performance by soybean urease induced calcium carbonate precipitation （SICP） combined with fibers and lightweight aggregates［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2025， 458： 139678. DOI URL
[6]	NODEHI M， OZBAKKALOGLU T， GHOLAMPOUR A. A systematic review of bacteria-based self-healing concrete： biomineralization， mechanical， and durability properties［J］. Journal of Building Engineering， 2022， 49： 104038. DOI URL
[7]	WU M， JOHANNESSON B， GEIKER M. A review：self-healing in cementitious materials and engineered cementitious composite as a self-healing material［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2012， 28（1）： 571-583. DOI URL
[8]	WANG J， FENG C H， ZONG X D， et al. Microbial self-healing cement-based materials co-reinforced by Mg²⁺： using recycled aggregates as carriers［J］. Journal of Building Engineering， 2024， 98： 111091. DOI URL
[9]	XU X C， GUO H X， CHENG X H， et al. The promotion of magnesium ions on aragonite precipitation in MICP process［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2020， 263： 120057. DOI URL
[10]	荣辉，钱春香，李龙志. 微生物诱导形成的碳酸镁胶结松散颗粒研究［J］. 科技导报， 2013， 31（2）： 18-21.
	RONG H， QIAN C X， LI L Z. Loose particles cemented by microbially induced magnesium carbonate［J］. Science & Technology Review， 2013， 31（2）： 18-21 （in Chinese）.
[11]	马瑞男，郭红仙，陈溪海，等. 镁离子对微生物砂浆强度影响的研究［J］. 工业建筑， 2018， 48（10）： 121-125.
	MA R N， GUO H X， CHEN X H， et al. Influence of magnesium ion on the strength of microbial mortar［J］. Industrial Construction， 2018， 48（10）： 121-125 （in Chinese）.
[12]	FENG C H， ZONG X D， CUI B W， et al. Application of carrier materials in self-healing cement-based materials based on microbial-induced mineralization［J］. Crystals， 2022， 12（6）： 797. DOI URL
[13]	MEHROTRA T， DEV S， BANERJEE A， et al. Use of immobilized bacteria for environmental bioremediation： a review［J］. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering， 2021， 9（5）： 105920. DOI URL
[14]	WEISER D， SÓTI P L， BÁNÓCZI G， et al. Bioimprinted lipases in PVA nanofibers as efficient immobilized biocatalysts［J］. Tetrahedron， 2016， 72（46）： 7335-7342. DOI URL
[15]	SALEEM B， HUSSAIN A， KHATTAK A， et al. Performance evaluation of bacterial self-healing rigid pavement by incorporating recycled brick aggregate［J］. Cement and Concrete Composites， 2021， 117： 103914. DOI URL
[16]	LI J H， WANG T， DU C Y， et al. Multi-faceted assessment of microbial-reinforced recycled brick aggregate concrete［J］. Chemical Engineering Journal， 2024， 497： 154481. DOI URL
[17]	SHAO J H， GAO J M， ZHAO Y S， et al. Study on the pozzolanic reaction of clay brick powder in blended cement pastes［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2019， 213： 209-215. DOI URL
[18]	XU J， WANG X Z. Self-healing of concrete cracks by use of bacteria-containing low alkali cementitious material［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2018， 167： 1-14. DOI URL
[19]	韦双妮，王英辉，赖俊翔，等. 微生物自修复混凝土研究进展［J］. 硅酸盐通报， 2024， 43（8）： 2737-2747+2757.
	WEI S N， WANG Y H， LAI J X， et al. Research developments on microbial self-healing concrete［J］. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society， 2024， 43（8）： 2737-2747+2757 （in Chinese）.
[20]	赖信可. 镁、铝离子对生物膜及其胞外聚合物的作用规律研究［D］. 昆明：昆明理工大学， 2016： 23-27.
	LAI X K. Effects of Mg（Ⅱ）/Al（Ⅲ） on biofilm and its extracellular polymeric substances［D］. Kunming： Kunming University of Science and Technology， 2016： 23-27 （in Chinese）.
[21]	李磊，李福春，刘璐，等. 低Mg/Ca条件下丛毛单胞菌HJ-1菌株诱导文石的形成［J］. 微生物学报， 2017， 57（3）： 434-446.
	LI L， LI F C， LIU L， et al. Curvibacter sp. strain HJ-1 induced the formation of aragonite under the condition of low Mg/Ca ratio［J］. Acta Microbiologica Sinica， 2017， 57（3）： 434-446 （in Chinese）.
[22]	刘沼旖，程远兵. 再生砖骨料混凝土性能及性能提升方法研究［J］. 土木工程， 2024， 13（8）： 1476-1488.
	LIU S Q， CHENG Y B. Research on the performance of recycled brick aggregate concrete and methods for performance improvement［J］. Hans Journal of Civil Engineering， 2024， 13（8）： 1476-1488 （in Chinese）. DOI URL
[23]	ZHENG C C， LOU C， DU G， et al. Mechanical properties of recycled concrete with demolished waste concrete aggregate and clay brick aggregate［J］. Results in Physics， 2018， 9： 1317-1322. DOI URL
[24]	SHENG M P， PENG D H， LUO S H， et al. Micro-dynamic process of cadmium removal by microbial induced carbonate precipitation［J］. Environmental Pollution， 2022， 308： 119585. DOI URL