Sustainable Infrastructure, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
10.5281/zenodo.21701187
Abstract
The durability of reinforced concrete infrastructure is critically threatened by cracking-induced corrosion, prompting the development of autonomous self-healing polymer-modified cementitious composites. This comprehensive review systematically examines the molecular engineering of polymer systems for concrete self-healing, focusing on the mechanistic understanding of inhibitor release kinetics and service life prediction. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have demonstrated remarkable efficacy, achieving up to 97% reduction in autogenous shrinkage and complete crack healing through internal curing and promoted autogenous healing mechanisms . Microbial self-healing systems utilizing bacteria-induced calcium carbonate precipitation have achieved crack healing depths exceeding 40 mm, with healing efficiency directly correlated to crack width and bacterial metabolic activity . Polymeric corrosion inhibitors incorporating functional groups (-COOH, -NH₂, -SO₃H) exhibit inhibition efficiencies exceeding 90% through chemisorption mechanisms, with the neutralizing cation critically influencing performance through distinct adsorption pathways . Smart microcapsule systems demonstrate pH-responsive release behavior, with release rates increasing at lower pH values characteristic of corrosion initiation environments . Advanced computational approaches including generalized Polynomial Chaos Expansion enable full-cycle prediction of crack healing with high reliability , while machine learning models achieve R² values of 0.9918 for autogenous healing forecasting . This review concludes that integrated molecular design, controlled release mechanisms, and predictive modeling frameworks offer transformative potential for extending concrete service life by factors of 10 or more.
Koshkeki, M. A. (2026). Molecularly Engineered Polymer-Modified Concrete with Autonomous Self-Healing: Mechanistic Insights into Inhibitor Release Kinetics and Service Life Prediction. Journal of Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials, 2(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21701187
MLA
Koshkeki, M. A. "Molecularly Engineered Polymer-Modified Concrete with Autonomous Self-Healing: Mechanistic Insights into Inhibitor Release Kinetics and Service Life Prediction", Journal of Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials, 2, 2, 2026, 103–116. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.21701187
HARVARD
Koshkeki, M. A. (2026). 'Molecularly Engineered Polymer-Modified Concrete with Autonomous Self-Healing: Mechanistic Insights into Inhibitor Release Kinetics and Service Life Prediction', Journal of Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials, 2(2), pp. 103–116. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.21701187
CHICAGO
Koshkeki, M. A., "Molecularly Engineered Polymer-Modified Concrete with Autonomous Self-Healing: Mechanistic Insights into Inhibitor Release Kinetics and Service Life Prediction." Journal of Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials, 2 2 (2026): 103–116, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.21701187
VANCOUVER
Koshkeki M. A. Molecularly Engineered Polymer-Modified Concrete with Autonomous Self-Healing: Mechanistic Insights into Inhibitor Release Kinetics and Service Life Prediction. Journal of Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials. 2026;2(2):103–116. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.21701187