Self-heating and self-healing concrete demonstrated at MSU

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - On Friday, Michigan State University leaders, researchers, and students demonstrated a new self-heating and self-healing concrete.

Across the globe, around 18 billion cubic yards of concrete are used annually, making up roads, sidewalks, and infrastructure.

However, “concrete is prone to cracking when subjected to bending or stretching.” With those cracks, water and chemicals can seep into the concrete and corrode the steel reinforcement inside. In the winter, the water in the concrete will freeze, leading to potholes.

But a new material, developed at Michigan State University, is aiming to expand what is possible.

“Our concrete bends instead of cracking, and we added one very key feature, the self-heating property,” Bill Jin said.

Jin is an Associate Prof