Friday, August 8, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Technology and Engineering

‘Fossilizing’ cracks in infrastructure creates sealing that can even survive earthquakes

May 22, 2024
in Technology and Engineering
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Figure 1
68
SHARES
614
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Various forms of underground activity, such as deep wells or the disposal of hazardous materials, require the long-term sealing of rocks. A team of researchers has developed an innovative method based on fossilization processes to seal cracks and fractures in rock using a “concretion-forming resin”. The results were published in Communications Engineering.

Figure 1

Credit: Hidekazu Yoshida

Various forms of underground activity, such as deep wells or the disposal of hazardous materials, require the long-term sealing of rocks. A team of researchers has developed an innovative method based on fossilization processes to seal cracks and fractures in rock using a “concretion-forming resin”. The results were published in Communications Engineering.

The underground disposal of pollutants, such as radioactive waste and carbon dioxide, poses unique challenges. To avoid their release, it is necessary to seal the shafts and boreholes used for investigations and ensure that there are no leaks from the rock for long periods of time. Unfortunately, current cement-based sealing materials do not offer long-term functionality and durability. Especially in earthquake-prone countries, such as Japan, this may cause future complications, such as leaks.

To find a solution, lead researcher Hidekazu Yoshida of the Nagoya University Museum turned to his expertise in fossil preservation in calcium carbonate concretions. He understood that such concretions form quite rapidly within a few weeks to years, and fossils in concretions remain remarkably intact for millions of years, even when extracted from locations prone to weathering and seismic disturbances. He mused about the potential use of a similar approach in an industrial context.

“I realized that well-preserved fossils in concretions had withstood weathering and the like for tens to hundreds of thousands of years in the natural environment,” Yoshida said. “I became inspired by studying how fast concretions were formed and why the fossils inside were preserved so well.” 

One reason for the durability of fossils is the concretion process. This is a natural fossilization process in which minerals in groundwater precipitate out of the water and accumulate around the organic material. Calcite in the groundwater seals the remains by forming crystals around them, binding the surrounding sediments. This mechanism creates an almost impenetrable fossil, with the crystals blocking even small, micrometer-sized openings.  

Based on the concretion-forming process, the researchers mixed two agents to develop a “concretion-forming resin”. The resin holds the ions needed to form calcite when water is introduced. Calcite forms impenetrable crystals in cracks and holes, reproducing the concretion formation process seen in nature, only much faster.   

During a test in an underground laboratory 350 meters below the surface in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, the researchers discovered that their resin-based material had remarkable sealing abilities. When applied to flow-paths in the rock, it sealed them completely and rapidly.  

The area experienced six earthquakes in the space of two days, including a magnitude 5.4 earthquake, putting their resin to the ultimate test. Despite a further five earthquakes during the test period, the cracks remained sealed. In fact, open cracks even resealed as the crystals reformed.  

“The earthquakes were coincidence; something we never expected and planned for”, Yoshida said. “They were a surprise to us, but it was such a great opportunity to see the material’s performance. Such a fast-acting and sustained sealing effect of rock fractures, including post-earthquake crack repair, has never been reported before. Conventional cement materials cannot achieve this result.” 

The group is working closely with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Sekisui Chemical Co., and Chubu Electric Power Co., Ltd. to ensure that the resin will be commercially viable. Following their successful test, the team anticipates a wide range of applications, including long-term underground sequestration of radioactive waste and carbon dioxide, sealing abandoned oil wells, groundwater control during rock and mine excavation, and repair of cracks in ageing infrastructure such as roads and buildings. 



Journal

Communications Engineering

DOI

10.1038/s44172-024-00216-1

Article Publication Date

22-May-2024

Share27Tweet17
Previous Post

Gene cluster expression index and potential indications for targeted therapy and immunotherapy for lung cancers

Next Post

Smoke covered 70% of California during biggest wildfire years

Related Posts

blank
Technology and Engineering

Deep Eutectic Electrolyte Enhances Aluminium Anode Stability

August 8, 2025
blank
Technology and Engineering

Small Yet Powerful: A Biomimetic Concept Soars

August 8, 2025
blank
Technology and Engineering

Advanced Quinone Nanocomposites Boost Zinc-Ion Batteries

August 8, 2025
blank
Technology and Engineering

Smart Excitation for Real-Time Full-Spectrum Vibration Isolation

August 8, 2025
blank
Technology and Engineering

3D GN/CNT Network Boosts NVPF Cathode Performance

August 8, 2025
blank
Technology and Engineering

Eco-Friendly ZIF-7 Carbon for Sensitive Rhodamine B Detection

August 8, 2025
Next Post
smoke plume over Castle Lake

Smoke covered 70% of California during biggest wildfire years

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27531 shares
    Share 11009 Tweet 6881
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    942 shares
    Share 377 Tweet 236
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    641 shares
    Share 256 Tweet 160
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    507 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    310 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Bendamustine Triggers ER Stress Apoptosis in Breast Cancer
  • Exploring Renal Pseudotumors in Pediatric Imaging
  • Mapping Soil Carbon Changes Across the U.S. Since 1955
  • Low Genetic Diversity Threatens Mozambique’s Iconic Corals

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,858 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading