Color-Adjustable Microbial Concrete Repairing Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microbial self-repairing concrete technologies face challenges in color adjustment of mineralized products, resulting in visible color differences between repaired surfaces and the concrete matrix, which affects the appearance and integrity of the concrete.
Innovation Solution
A color-adjustable repairing agent is developed, comprising a mixture of cement-immobilized microbial powder, dopamine, and a calcium source, where the microbial powder is selected from Bacillus mucilaginosus and Bacillus alkalophilus, and the calcium source is calcium formate or phosphate, with dopamine reacting with calcium carbonate to form an organic-inorganic composite structure, adjusting the color and enhancing adhesiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation technology is used for self-repairing concrete, then the repair performance and ecological safety are improved, but the color difference between repaired surface and concrete matrix worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change principle by incorporating iron oxide pigment into the repairing agent formulation. The iron oxide pigment provides reddish-brown coloration that matches the natural color of hardened concrete, thereby eliminating the white color difference caused by pure calcium carbonate precipitation and achieving color uniformity between repaired areas and the original concrete matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining microbial powder, calcium source, iron oxide pigment, and cementitious materials to create a multi-component repairing agent. This composite formulation integrates the self-repairing function of microbial calcium carbonate precipitation with the color-matching function of iron oxide pigment and the structural function of cementitious binder, simultaneously achieving both repair performance and color uniformity.
2Shape
If iron oxide pigment is added to adjust color, then the color uniformity is improved, but the complexity of preparing the repairing agent worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single repairing agent formulation by combining microbial powder, calcium source, iron oxide pigment, and cementitious materials into one integrated mixture. This unified formulation eliminates the need for separate application steps for different components and can be prepared using standard concrete mixing equipment, thereby reducing overall preparation complexity despite the multiple ingredients involved.
Solution Approach 2:
The repairing agent formulation serves multiple functions simultaneously: microbial powder and calcium source provide self-repairing capability, iron oxide pigment provides color matching, and cementitious materials provide structural binding. This multi-functional design allows a single material to address repair performance, color uniformity, and application simplicity together.
3Reliability
If cement is used as shell for immobilizing microbial powder, then the premature activation is prevented, but the device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cementitious materials to form a shell or coating around the microbial powder particles. This cement shell acts as a protective barrier that prevents premature activation of the microbes while allowing nutrient and water penetration when needed. The shell structure is formed through standard mixing and curing processes, making it practically simple despite the protective function provided.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively regulates the color of microbial mineralized products, reducing color differences with the concrete matrix, improving the appearance of self-repairing concrete and enhancing the filling and repair capabilities in crack areas while maintaining ecological safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the added dopamine may further react with the mineralized product, with a main reaction process as follows: Firstly, —NH2 in the dopamine is connected to the calcium carbonate by means of reaction
Implementation Method 2
then hydroxyl in a dopamine structure is oxidized in air to form quinone, to generate a black polymer
Implementation Method 3
microbial self-repairing concrete repairs cracks produced during the use of concrete based on the microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation technology by filling the cracks with microbial-induced mineralized deposited calcium carbonate
Implementation Method 4
spores are activated to generate ammonia gas and carbon dioxide in the concrete through metabolism
Implementation Method 5
a system is alkaline with hydrolysis of the ammonia gas and the carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 6
the cement includes sulphoaluminate cement or portland cement, and the cement is selected to serve as a shell part of repairing agent particles and prevent the microbial self-repairing agent from being activated in advance
Data Source
AI summary
A color-adjustable repairing agent and a preparation method therefor, and concrete containing the repairing agent are disclosed in the present invention; the repairing agent is a mixture of microbial powder, dopamine and a calcium source immobilized by cement; and according to total mass of the mixture, a mass percentage of the microbial powder is 44%-54%, a mass percentage of the dopamine is 1%-5%, and a mass percentage of the calcium source is 44%-54%; according to the present invention, dopamine is mixed into a microbial self-repairing agent, a cement-immobilized microbial self-repairing agent is used for preparing repairing agent particles, a crack area of microbial self-repairing concrete is repaired, and repairing performance of the concrete and a color of a repairing product of the crack area are tested.