Rethinking rebar

Allium Engineering

The nation’s vast infrastructure serves as the backbone to the transport of goods, services and people. Heritage Construction + Materials is an integral part of building and maintaining much of that network in Indiana and, especially through the Heritage Research Lab and development of products like J-band, the company is constantly looking for ways to improve upon the lifespan of our roads and buildings.

Could a new form of rebar help? Allium Engineering is betting on it. Their innovation, a new method of coating steel rebar, aims to extend the life of concrete structures threefold.

By increasing the tensile load of reinforced concrete, rebar is an essential element to the strength of structures. But over time the concrete cracks, exposing the rebar to the elements, water and salt. That exposure leads to corrosion and breakage; once the rebar fails, structures begin to collapse.

“The problems with the longevity of our infrastructure are related to one specific problem, which is that our steel materials are rusting,” said Steven Jepeal, Co-Founder and CEO of Allium “We’re working to change the way we make the steel so that it doesn’t rust at all.”

To prevent corrosion, most rebar used on jobsites is coated in a plastic epoxy, which is not super durable. In contrast, Allium’s rebar is made with a stainless-steel coating bonded to traditional rebar, which stands up against the elements and extends the life of the material.

“Instead of having to replace an entire bridge every 20 to 30 years, we think our product can last uninterrupted for 100 years,” said Steven. “Through our process of changing these materials, we will revolutionize how the bridges and buildings we rely on every day are made.”

Corey Baugh, VP/Area Manager of Milestone in Columbus, Indiana, served as a mentor for Allium during their time with the Accelerator, a relationship he found very rewarding. “It’s great to see young people in material sciences and witness their approach to improving a very established sector of our economy,” he said. “Allium has the potential to extend the longevity of our finished product, and anything that makes the projects we work so hard to construct last longer is a positive for our industry. Innovative products like Allium’s are going to help lower risk for Heritage, will increase the value of the finished product and will provide us with a competitive advantage.”

How it can build a safer, more enriching and sustainable world:

Extends the life of our infrastructure

Creates a safer final product

Learn more at alliumeng.com.