Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers

在澳大利亚，我们117，000公里的混凝土污水管目前正在以每年1-3毫米的深度腐蚀。损坏混凝土的修复费用昂贵，而且往往寿命短。基于先进的复合材料技术，该项目将开发一种pH敏感的自修复混凝土，可以在腐蚀的早期阶段进行自我修复，而无需人为干预。来自饮用水处理的污泥废物将被用作修复剂，以减轻腐蚀。结合实验和分子动力学模拟将揭示愈合过程的各个方面，使这项技术的实际应用。研究结果将延长混凝土结构的使用寿命，促进循环经济。

In Australia, our 117,000 km of concrete sewer pipes are currently internally corroding at a depth rate of 1-3 mm per annum. The repair of deteriorated concrete is costly and often short-lived. Based on an advanced composite technology, this project will develop a pH-sensitive self-healing concrete that can repair itself without human intervention at the early stage of corrosion. Sludge waste from drinking water treatment will be utilised as a healing agent to mitigate the corrosion. Combined experiments and molecular dynamics simulation will uncover all aspects of the healing process to enable the practical application of this technology. The findings will extend the lifetime of concrete structures and promote a circular economy.