CONTACTS: Drs. Eugene Cilento & Al Stiller, 304-293-2111
Brian Joseph &Elizabeth Kraftician, 304-547-5800
Coal-related industries could benefit from new coal-foam
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Coal-related industries could get a shot in the arm under a recent agreement between researchers at West Virginia University and Touchstone Research Laboratories to develop a new foam product from coal.
Officials from the University and Triadelphia, W.Va.-based Touchstone have entered into an option for an exclusive license for a WVU patent to manufacture and market coal-based carbon foam for commercial use.
WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. and Touchstone President Brian E. Joseph signed the agreement Wednesday (Dec. 9).
"Traditionally, coal has been mined and shipped out of state for use as a raw material," Joseph said. "We intend to take coal and turn it into high value-added products in the Mountain State."
"It's thinking of coal as an ore for making carbon and not just for fuel," added Eugene Cilento, chairman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at WVU's College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Chemical engineering professors Al Stiller, Peter Stansberry and John Zondlo have been doing research on carbon foam. They have been assisted by Janusz Plucinski and Aaron Yocum of the department's technical staff.
Made from bituminous (high-sulfur) coal, carbon foam absorbs shock and will not support combustion. The material, which is both lightweight and strong, could be used to insulate Navy ships against fire and protect military vehicles from explosions. It could also be used in high-strength parts for the aerospace industry and engines that are less polluting. Under the agreement, WVU researchers will continue to develop new properties for carbon foam, while Touchstone will market and develop the manufacturing processes for the material. The company's goal is to have a pilot plant operational in West Virginia by mid-1999.
"The combination of a West Virginia natural resource, WVU researchers and West Virginia entrepreneurial talent will transform coal, which sells for pennies per pound, into a high value-added product that will compete with aerospace materials that sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars per pound," said Elizabeth Kraftician, Touchstone's chief executive officer.
Founded in 1980 by Kraftician and Joseph, Touchstone serves as the new product developer and industrial problem-solver for hundreds of U.S. companies. Touchstone has been successful in developing innovative materials and manufacturing processes for the aerospace, defense and automotive industries.
The company has worked with NASA and United Technologies to develop an environmentally friendly thermal protection material for the space shuttle. Touchstone also worked with Century Aluminum in Ravenswood, W.Va., to develop new aluminum alloys and fabrication processes that are expected to generate $20 million in new business annually for the manufacturer.
"We don't anticipate the amount of coal mining to increase, but the state may see development of new industries that use coal for these value-added applications," Dr. Cilento said.
Both sides are optimistic their partnership will pay off in the long run.
"Everything we've done so far has been in an academic setting on a smaller scale. Having a partner like Touchstone will enable us to make larger quantities of carbon foam, which can be tested to prove the feasibility of the material, " Cilento said.
"This material, we think, will have applications in aerospace, the Navy and many other industries," Joseph said.
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