ABSTRACT
The effects of autogenous healing phenomena on the microstructural characteristics of cement matrix are examined by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and thermogravimeter. Based on the mechanism of the healing, two approaches have been developed for self-healing in cementitious composites as autonomic healing and autogenous healing. This chapter presents the experimental study regarding the influence of polyetylene incorporation on the self-healing properties of concrete mixtures. Municipal polymeric wastes in various forms and fly ash from incineration of municipal solid wastes are used together as secondary raw materials for the preparation of concrete mixtures. In order to assess the influence of self-healing on mechanical strength, various pre-loaded and unloaded specimens from each mixture were tested for compressive strength at the end of 30 days healing period. For all mixtures, thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR analyses revealed that there were significant differences in the structural chemical composition of loaded and unloaded concrete specimens.
