MUMBAI, India, April 17 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641043167 A) filed by Neeraja Pannala; Dr E. V. Prasad; and Gitam, Hyderabad, Telangana, on April 4, for 'a smart fibre reinforced concrete incorporating alccofine with micro-encapsulated self-healing agents for crack repair.'
Inventor(s) include Neeraja Pannala; Dr E. V. Prasad; and Pawar Praveen.
The application for the patent was published on April 17, under issue no. 16/2026.
According to the abstract released by the Intellectual Property India: "The present invention relates to the development of a smart fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) incorporating Alccofine as an ultrafine mineral admixture and micro-encapsulated self-healing agents for autonomous crack repair. The proposed system addresses the critical issue of crack formation and propagation in conventional concrete, which leads to reduced durability and increased maintenance requirements. The concrete composition comprises cement, fine and coarse aggregates, water, Alccofine, discrete fibres, and micro-encapsulated healing agents. Alccofine enhances the microstructure of the concrete by improving particle packing density and promoting pozzolanic reactions, resulting in increased strength and reduced permeability. The inclusion of fibres such as steel, polypropylene, or glass fibres improves tensile strength, ductility, and crack resistance by bridging cracks and limiting their width. The micro-encapsulated healing agents are uniformly distributed within the concrete matrix and are designed to rupture upon the occurrence of cracks. Once released, the healing agents flow into the cracks and undergo chemical reactions such as polymerization or crystallization, thereby sealing the cracks and restoring the integrity of the material. The combined action of fibres and healing agents provides a dual mechanism in which crack propagation is controlled and damaged regions are autonomously repaired. The developed smart concrete demonstrates enhanced mechanical properties, improved durability, and significant self-healing efficiency in terms of crack closure and recovery of strength. The invention is particularly suitable for applications in infrastructure systems such as bridges, tunnels, pavements, and marine structures, where long-term performance and reduced maintenance are essential. Overall, the proposed system offers an innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solution by integrating advanced material technology with self-healing capability, thereby contributing to the development of resilient and intelligent construction materials."
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
