Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials

Innovative SuperAbsorbent Polymers for crack mitigation and increased service life of concrete structures

Researchers involved:

  • José Roberto Tenório Filho
  • Didier Snoeck (supervisor)
  • Nele de Belie (supervisor)

Description:

Look around, concrete is everywhere. Now look a bit closer, chances are you will spot a crack. Although cracks are inherent to the nature of the concrete they are mostly associated with durability issues that in time will demand repair. Aiming to prevent the appearance of cracks and increase the service life of concrete structures, the iSAP project works on the development of innovative super absorbent polymers to reduce the cracking potential and provide to the concrete the ability to self-seal and heal future cracks. The project is a partnership amongst Ghent University and the companies Artes Depret, Inter-Beton and Chemstream bv. The work has been financed by SIM program SHE (Engineered Self-Healing Materials).

iSAP project working principle
Crack-free reinforced concrete wall thanks to internal curing promoted by superabsorbent polymers
iSAP project construction of the walls
Construction and monitoring of large-scale reinforced concrete walls with superabsorbent polymers

Partners : 

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Funding: 

The work has been financed by financed by SIM within the SIM SHE Program (Engineered Self-Healing Materials) and the ICON iSAP project (Innovative SuperAbsorbent Polymers for crack mitigation and increased service life of concrete structures)

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