Previous Article in Journal
Numerical Analysis of Energy Dissipation and Frictional Effects in Aramid-Based Polymeric Fabrics Under Dynamic Loading
Previous Article in Special Issue
Acoustic, Thermal, and Mechanical Performance of Polymer-Coated Pumice Aggregate Lightweight Concretes
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Polymers
Volume 18
Issue 2
10.3390/polym18020262
polymers-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Endogenous Curing Mechanism and Self-Healing Properties of an Epoxy Resin (E-51) in Alkaline Environments of Cement-Based Materials

by
Qianjin Mao
1,2,*,
Yuanlong Wang
1,2,
Runfeng Li
1,3,
Yuhuan Zhou
1,2,
Shuqing Shi
2 and
Suping Cui
1,2
1
State Key Laboratory of Materials Low-Carbon Recycling, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
2
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
3
Beijing Building Materials Academy of Science Research, Beijing 100041, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2026, 18(2), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020262 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 December 2025 / Revised: 16 January 2026 / Accepted: 16 January 2026 / Published: 18 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Sustainable Construction Composites: Rheology, Mechanical Performance, and Durability)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Regarding the issues arising from the addition of external curing agents in the application of epoxy resin in cement-based materials, this paper explores the feasibility of endogenous curing of epoxy resin in the alkaline environment of cement-based systems. It further analyzes and investigates the curing characteristics of epoxy resin without external curing agents and their impact on the performance of cement-based materials. Differential scanning calorimetry, mechanical property testing, microstructural observation, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the mechanism of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) catalyzing the process of bisphenol-A epoxy resin (E-51)-based curing, the influence of moisture and temperature on curing kinetics, and the performance of epoxy resins in mortar and self-healing concrete. The results showed that E-51 achieved self-curing under alkaline conditions in the absence of an external hardener. However, moisture significantly inhibited the reaction process. Elevating the temperature and reducing environmental humidity effectively promoted the curing reaction. In cement-based materials, E-51 exhibited endogenous curing by the inherent alkalinity of the system, remarkably enhancing the compressive strength of mortar. At 60 °C, mortar containing 10% E-51 (by cement mass) exhibited a 1.5-fold higher compressive strength than that of the control group without E-51 at 14 days of curing. It demonstrated higher healing efficiency in a microencapsulated self-healing concrete system than the traditional curing agent systems. Concrete specimens with damage induced by loading at 60% of their compressive strength exhibited 100% recovery of ultrasonic pulse velocity after storing indoors for 28 d. The findings of this study can provide theoretical basis and technical support for the application of epoxy resins in cement-based materials without the need for curing agents.
Keywords: epoxy resin; alkaline catalysis; endogenous curing; cement-based materials; self-healing concrete epoxy resin; alkaline catalysis; endogenous curing; cement-based materials; self-healing concrete

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Mao, Q.; Wang, Y.; Li, R.; Zhou, Y.; Shi, S.; Cui, S. Endogenous Curing Mechanism and Self-Healing Properties of an Epoxy Resin (E-51) in Alkaline Environments of Cement-Based Materials. Polymers 2026, 18, 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020262

AMA Style

Mao Q, Wang Y, Li R, Zhou Y, Shi S, Cui S. Endogenous Curing Mechanism and Self-Healing Properties of an Epoxy Resin (E-51) in Alkaline Environments of Cement-Based Materials. Polymers. 2026; 18(2):262. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020262

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mao, Qianjin, Yuanlong Wang, Runfeng Li, Yuhuan Zhou, Shuqing Shi, and Suping Cui. 2026. "Endogenous Curing Mechanism and Self-Healing Properties of an Epoxy Resin (E-51) in Alkaline Environments of Cement-Based Materials" Polymers 18, no. 2: 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020262

APA Style

Mao, Q., Wang, Y., Li, R., Zhou, Y., Shi, S., & Cui, S. (2026). Endogenous Curing Mechanism and Self-Healing Properties of an Epoxy Resin (E-51) in Alkaline Environments of Cement-Based Materials. Polymers, 18(2), 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18020262

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop