An MIT startup wants to transform U.S. infrastructure from the ground up. Allium Engineering, a company founded by two engineering PhDs, has developed a stainless steel coating for rebar that can extend the life of bridges and structures by up to 100 years.
The proposal in favor of the useful life of bridges
Today, the average life span of a bridge in the United States is around 30 years. The main reason for this accelerated deterioration is corrosion of the carbon steel rods that reinforce the concrete. As they rust, they expand their volume, generate cracks and weaken the entire structure.
[post_relacionado]To address this problem, Allium Engineering applies a thin layer of stainless steel to traditional rebar without altering the usual manufacturing process. This method creates effective protection against corrosion without changing the structural properties of the material.
Domestic production and industrial scalability
Allium’s technology is already being applied. At its plant in Billerica, Massachusetts, the startup produced 100 tons of treated rod during the last year, used in civil works in states such as California and Florida. The company says its system can be integrated into any steel plant without modifying existing operations.
This approach allows for rapid scale-up, with the goal of establishing facilities near the country’s major steel mills, which would reduce logistical costs and accelerate the adoption of the coating.
Founders with a background in materials science
Steven Jepeal and Sam McAlpine, the founders of Allium, are MIT PhDs with experience in extreme environments. Inspired by nuclear fusion projects and collaborations and collaborations with Tata Steel, they applied their expertise in materials science to the civilian environment.
The idea was clear: improve durability without increasing costs. The coating is applied to the recycled steel during the early stages of rolling, as if it were industrial-scale paste. The result is a rod that retains more than 95% of its original composition, but resists corrosion for decades.
Less maintenance and reduced emissions
Mass adoption of this type of steel would have significant effects on infrastructure maintenance and the environment. By reducing the need for frequent reconstruction, carbon emissions associated with the production and transportation of materials are reduced.
Allium plans to expand the use use of the coating to other to other structural products such as railroad rails, beams and pipes. However, however, its immediate focus remains on rebar given its critical role in most given their critical role in most public works.
The company not only poses a solution to a technical problem, but proposes a new standard of durability for 21st century infrastructure.
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Source and photo: MIT