New products in concrete restoration and repair

Across the globe and the concrete industry, advances are being made in the arena of 'smart materials' including multi-function materials, nanomaterials, and biomimetic materials. One area of this research is in self-repair mechanisms, which may sound far-fetched to the layperson, but have shown promise in concrete.

Smart materials include microcapsules, bacteria, shape memory polymers, and vascular flow networks. This futuristic-sounding research is set to create concrete that can respond and adapt to changes in its environment.

One day, we might see concrete materials that self-monitor, self-regulate, adapt, and repair themselves to some extent, extending the life of concrete structures. Such materials would be particularly useful in extreme and inhospitable environments, such as underground nuclear waste encapsulation facilities.

Advances in nano-technology and chemical additives have already led to the delivery of some level of concrete protection via self-cleaning concrete, able to neutralize pollution, transforming harmful smog into harmless compounds through photocatalysis, allowing these compounds to be washed away by rain.

We will continue to keep an eye out for new products in industrial concrete repair and restoration that can be more readily and immediately applied, such as those demonstrated at the 2016 UK Concrete Show, held at the NEC, Birmingham, namely:

• Concrex - reported to be 8 times stronger than concrete. Curing to finish as strong as granite, it is described as impervious and non-dusting.
• Flowpatch - a self-leveling concrete patch repair material. Quick setting and able to be poured, it is possible to use this product in areas where there has been heavy wear.
• Putty Patch - a new concrete repair material that can be molded and which sets in ten minutes.

Great advances in concrete technology are being made every day, delivering improvements in protective concrete coatings and concrete corrosion mitigation. Vector Group remains at the forefront of the industry, and will continue to maintain its interest in new products in concrete restoration and repair in order to use the latest materials, with the highest level of service and the best value possible to our clients.