Raurkela: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Raurkela (NIT-R) have secured a patent for a high-strength composite material developed from coal-mining and industrial waste, with potential applications in roads carrying heavy traffic.
The patented technology combines coal mine parting, fly ash and a binder to produce a composite material with properties suitable for construction applications.
The development seeks to address the growing problem of mining and industrial waste while providing a durable and sustainable material for infrastructure.
The research was conducted by Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao; Director, Manoj Kumar Mishra; professor, and PhD graduate Dr Subhasrita Chodhury of NIT-Rourkela’s Department of Mining Engineering.
The technology has been granted Patent No. 597749 under application No. 202331070306.
The researchers focused on silica and alumina-rich clay minerals found in coal mine partings.
These materials possess properties such as compressive strength and stiffness that can be enhanced through the use of industrial additives.
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Rao said the technology could be particularly useful in coal-mining regions, where roads frequently carry heavy vehicles transporting mined materials and are exposed to repeated loading and traffic.
Mishra described the development as an example of the circular economy, saying it converts large volumes of industrial waste into a resource with engineering and economic potential.
India produces about 1 billion tonnes of raw coal annually, with most extraction taking place through surface mining, generating substantial quantities of waste, according to the Ministry of Coal.
