MULTIFUNCTIONAL CARBON NANOMATERIALS IN SELF-HEALING CONCRETE: FROM SYNTHESIS TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATION

Balogun G. Y.*, Fatukasi B. A

ABSTRACT

The addition of carbon-based nanomaterials into cementitious mixtures represents an important step toward creating a smarter organization that is not only stronger but also capable of repairing itself. In this review, 45 peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2024 were examined, with consideration given to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) in self-healing concrete. The findings recommend that including CNTs at levels of 0.1–0.5% of cement weight can increase compressive strength by roughly 15–35%. In evaluation, GO at 0.02–0.08% delivers similar improvements while offering better distribution, which in practice is a critical factor for consistency. The instruments behind self-healing appear to work through processes such as bridging of cracks, stimulation of the material’s own natural (autogenous) repair, and responses to external triggers. As a result, repair efficiencies of about 60–85% were observed for crack widths up to 100 μm. Even with these hopeful outcomes, challenges remain. Achieving uniform distribution is difficult, the costs are still high, and no clear standards have yet been established. At present, nanomaterial-improved concrete can be 150–400% more expensive than conventional mixes, which limits its large-scale adoption. These issues may indicate that while the technology is hopeful, practical implementation will require both technical advances and cost reductions. Keywords: carbon nanomaterials, self-healing concrete, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, mechanical performance, structural durability.

Keywords: Concrete, graphene, nanotubes, nanomaterial, self-healing.