Synergy between silica fume and crystalline admixtures on the self-healing capacity of Textile-Reinforced Mortars

This paper examines the synergistic effect of silica fume and crystalline admixtures on the selfhealing properties of sustainable glass textile-reinforced cement-based mortar composites. Selfhealing characteristics were imparted by functionalising the mortar through the incorporation of silica fume as cement replacement and/or crystalline admixtures. The self-healing effectiveness was assessed through capillary absorption tests and detailed microscopic analyses, as well as via mechanical tests, on pre-cracked and “healed” specimens after one month of immersion in water. The results demonstrate the superior role of crystalline admixtures in enhancing self-healing performance indices and the synergistic role of silica fume in enhancing the bond at the textile/mortar interface.