MUMBAI, India, Aug. 10 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641091237 A) filed by Vinodh S; Dr. B. Babu; K. Vanisri; Dr. M. S. Sivakumar; N. Ramanarayanan; Dr. S. Sumathra; Dr. D. Praveen Kumar; Dr. J. D. Nallasivam; and Dr. W. Maria Therease Ramya on July 27, 2026, for Self-Healing Concrete Composition Using Microencapsulated Bacterial Agents And Recycled Industrial By-Products.
Inventors include Dr. B. Babu; K. Vanisri; Dr. M. S. Sivakumar; N. Ramanarayanan; Dr. S. Sumathra; Dr. D. Praveen Kumar; Dr. J. D. Nallasivam; Dr. W. Maria Therease Ramya; and Dr. S. Vinodh.
The application for the patent was published on July 31, 2026, under issue no. 31/2026.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-healing concrete composition that incorporates microencapsulated bacterial agents in combination with recycled industrial by- products, engineered to autonomously repair micro-cracks and extend the service life of concrete structures while reducing dependence on virgin raw materials. Conventional concrete is inherently susceptible to progressive micro-cracking arising from mechanical loading, shrinkage, thermal cycling, and long-term environmental exposure, which compromises durability and necessitates costly manual repair, protective coatings, or premature structural replacement. The proposed composition addresses these limitations by dispersing a plurality of microencapsulated bacterial agents throughout the cementitious matrix, each comprising an alkaliphilic, spore-forming bacterial population together with a calcium precursor compound and a nutrient source, all contained within a rupturable protective shell. Upon formation of a crack and consequent shell rupture, the bacterial spores, calcium source, and nutrient compound are released into the crack void, where ingress of moisture and oxygen triggers spore germination and microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation, thereby autonomously sealing the crack and restoring structural integrity and impermeability without external intervention. The composition further replaces a substantial proportion of Portland cement with recycled industrial by-products, including fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, or rice husk ash, which contribute pozzolanic reactivity, reduce embodied carbon and material cost, and improve long-term durability. The synergistic combination of autonomous bacterial self-healing and recycled by-product incorporation yields a concrete composition exhibiting improved crack-healing efficiency, reduced water and chloride permeability, enhanced long-term mechanical performance, and a substantially reduced environmental footprint compared to conventional concrete and existing self-healing formulations, providing a sustainable and resilient solution for buildings, pavements, bridges, and other infrastructure applications.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
