Sustainability and technology is a combination many may compare to oil and water. However, Semplastics, a material engineering company, is changing this misconception by bringing coal waste to additive manufacturing. X-MAT®, the Advanced Materials Division of Semplastics, has been awarded a $1.2 million contract from the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to research and test coal-enhanced filaments and resins with 3D printing.
“We’re recycling coal waste and reimaging it,” said Bill Easter, founder of X-MAT® and Semplastics. “We’re excited to receive this grant from the DOE so that we can continue to research ways to reuse coal waste. With this project, we’re seeing technology’s ability to offer innovative sustainable solutions.” This cost-effective process will utilize high volumes of waste to produce high-value, in-demand products.
The DOE’s award focuses on companies interested in utilizing coal waste for 3D printing filaments. X-MAT® plans to apply its materials technology of high-temperature plastics and ceramic composites to develop 3D Printer filaments using at least two of the most common coal waste materials – bituminous coal fines and fly ash.