Mechanical properties of microcapsule-basalt fiber/cement composites

Standard specimens of microcapsule-basalt fiber/cement composite materials were prepared with cement, basalt fiber and microcapsule, designed with epoxy resin as cores and urea-formaldehyde resins (UF) as shells. Effects of fiber contents, fiber length, microcapsule mass fractions, water-cement ratio, and the curing duration were studied to the flexural strength and compressive strength of the composites. The best proportion of mechanical properties of self-healing composite was chosen by orthogonal design experiments. Results show the flexural strength rises with the increase of fiber contents. However, the compressive strength rises with the decrease of fiber contents. With the rising of fiber length, the flexural strength increases slightly while the compressive strength decreases slightly. The flexural strength rises at first and then reduces with the increase of flexural strength, while the compressive strength reduces. Both the flexural strength and the compressive strength rise with the increase of the curing duration. Composites can be repaired by self-healing microcapsule spontaneously after damages. The healing and recovery rate of flexural strength is 117% and 103%.The healing rate and recovery rate of compressive strength is 71% and 97%.