Influence of Superabsorbent Polymer and Microencapsulated Bacterial Spore on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Mortar Mixture

Abstract

This study investigates physical and mechanical properties of cement mortar incorporated with superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and microencapsulated bacterial spore for microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) as additives. The contents of microencapsulated bacterial spore were varied at 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% by weight of cement. The SAP content was controlled at 4% by weight of cement. The flowabilities of mortars madewith SAP and microencapsulated bacterial spore achieve a minimum allowable value in accordance with ASTM C109M. The specimen with 0.25% of the microencapsulated bacterial spore and 4% of SAP exhibits the compressive strength at 28 days equivalent to specimen solely mixed with either SAP or the microencapsulated bacterial spore. The results show that the combined effects of SAP and microencapsulated bacterial spore can proof the effectiveness of maintaining physical and mechanical properties in mortar. Therefore, the utilization of the SAP and the microencapsulated bacterial sporein cement mortar potentially allows development of mix proportions for selfhealing application without interference to mechanical properties.