3D-Printed Mini-vascular Networks for Self-healing Lime-based Mortars

Climate change is exposing our built heritage to greater and more extreme hazards. Historic masonry repair technologies must evolve in response to these, promoting a new, long-term resilient preservation strategy. Drawing inspiration from the study of mini-vascular networks to develop self-healing in concrete structures, this work proposes the use of biomimetic mini-mini vascular networks (m-MVNs) for repairing cracks in lime-based mortars. The m-MVNs are 3D printed units formed by interconnected channels capable of storing and protecting healing agents that are released when threshold damage is exceeded. In the case where patching is required for restoration of historic masonry wall, m-MVNs are designed to fit completely within the mortar joint. Initial results demonstrated that m-MVNs printed from clear PLA, have a promising design capable of storing healing agents without leaking or premature curing. Future experiments will investigate the appropriateness of this design of m-MVNs to enclose suspensions of bacteria and deliver them to cracks.