Researchers with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota have successfully tested a new, cost-effective method for repairing damaged bridge girders that they believe can restore them to their original shear strength or even make them stronger.

The new additive system is comprised of a liquid healing agent encapsulated by a polymeric shell, which upon incorporation into a coating formulation can impart self-healing functionality to the coating. The formulation consists of an epoxy resin, a polar diluent, a corrosion inhibitor, and an adhesion promoter.

As steam is produced in a boiler, the impurities left in the feedwater concentrate and precipitate out of the solution and onto the internal surfaces of the boiler, causing fouling. This reduces both the water flow and the heat transfer, decreasing the efficiency and power of the boiler. Such fouling can accelerate corrosion of the boiler, decreasing its life.