Posted on 07/24/2025 8:58:21 AM PDT by Jonty30
For those that either have not seen this video, I am posting this so people can learn about.
It was posted here on Freerepublic about a year ago, so I asked Grok for an update.
The flash Joule heating (FJH) process developed at Rice University to convert waste materials into graphene has shown significant progress toward commercialization, but it is not yet fully commercialized at a large scale. Here's a summary of the current status based on available information:
### Progress Toward Commercialization 1. **Universal Matter**: A startup company, Universal Matter, was spun off from Rice University to commercialize the FJH process. By 2021, Universal Matter aimed to scale production to 1 ton per day by Q2 2022, with plans for further expansion. The company has been working on industrializing the process to produce graphene from various waste sources, including plastics, food waste, and carbon-based materials like coal and asphaltene.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)[](https://www.science.org/content/article/electricity-turns-garbage-graphene)
2. **Collaborations and Funding**: - **NETL Partnership**: The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) partnered with Rice University to study FJH for producing graphene from carbon ore, achieving a milestone of producing 1 kg of graphene in less than two hours, exceeding goals by 20 times. Plans include optimizing the system for higher production rates and integrating AI for process control.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873) - **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**: A $5.2 million grant in 2021 supported efforts to expand FJH applications, including recycling metals from batteries and producing graphene from waste.[](https://news2.rice.edu/2021/09/30/army-backs-bid-to-flash-waste-into-useful-materials/) - **Ford Motor Company**: Rice collaborated with Ford to convert plastic parts from end-of-life vehicles into graphene for automotive applications, indicating industry interest.[](https://www.graphene-info.com/tags/rice-university)
3. **Applications and Market Potential**: - The FJH process produces turbostratic graphene, which is easier to disperse and integrate into materials like concrete, asphalt, plastics, and composites. For example, adding just 0.1% graphene to concrete can reduce its environmental impact by a third, and 1% in asphalt can triple road lifespan.[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)[](https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials-research/rice-lab-turns-trash-into-graphene-in-a-flash) - The process is cost-effective, with estimates of ~$125 per ton of plastic waste converted, compared to graphene’s commercial price of $67,000–$200,000 per ton. This economic incentive, combined with environmental benefits, supports commercialization potential.[](https://graphene-flagship.eu/materials/news/flash-graphene-trash-to-treasure/)[](https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials-research/rice-lab-turns-trash-into-graphene-in-a-flash) - Additional applications include water purification, energy storage, and PFAS remediation, where FJH converts waste into graphene while addressing environmental challenges.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841)[](https://quantumzeitgeist.com/rice-scientists-develop-flash-joule-heating-method-to-eliminate-forever-chemicals-and-transform-waste-into-graphene/)
### Challenges and Criticisms - **Scalability and Quality**: Some skepticism exists regarding scalability and the quality of graphene produced. A Reddit discussion highlighted concerns that FJH graphene from waste might be lower quality (“shit-tier”) compared to graphene from pure carbon sources, potentially limiting its use in high-end applications like electronics. However, for applications like concrete additives, high-quality graphene may not be necessary.[](https://www.reddit.com/r/graphene/comments/qf8z1q/flash_joule_heating_process_commercialization/) - **Energy and Safety**: The process requires significant electrical energy to reach temperatures up to 3,000°C, raising concerns about safety (e.g., electrocution risks) and the need for renewable energy to minimize CO2 emissions. Proper venting systems are also needed to manage volatile gases.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841) - **Market Adoption**: While the process is promising, widespread commercial adoption depends on proving scalability, consistent quality, and economic viability at industrial scales. The technology must compete with existing graphene production methods like chemical vapor deposition, which are costly but established.[](https://www.science.org/content/article/twenty-years-after-its-discovery-graphene-finally-living-hype)
### Current Status As of the latest reports (up to 2025), Universal Matter and other partners are actively scaling the FJH process, with production milestones achieved in the lab and pilot projects underway. The technology has moved beyond proof-of-concept, with real-world testing in applications like concrete and automotive composites. However, full-scale commercial production (e.g., 100 tons per day, as aspired in some reports) is still in development, with ongoing efforts to optimize automation and process control.[](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935125002841)[](https://netl.doe.gov/node/10873)
### Conclusion The Rice University FJH process is on a promising trajectory toward commercialization, driven by Universal Matter and supported by significant funding and partnerships. While challenges like scalability, energy use, and quality control remain, the technology’s ability to upcycle waste into valuable graphene for applications like construction, automotive, and environmental remediation makes it economically and environmentally compelling. Full commercialization is likely still a few years away, pending further scaling and market validation.
If you’d like, I can search for more recent updates or specific details about Universal Matter’s progress or other commercial efforts. Let me know!
The only product I’ve used that actually contains graphene is one type of gloves we use at work. I didn’t even make the connection with the name until I read one of the packages. They’re called Kyorene Pro 00-890 by a company called Armor Guys. They’re rated ANSI Cut Level A9 which is pretty good as they’re just like some gardening gloves. They’re really expensive, though; Around $200 per dozen.
Sounds more like an exotic material that has hired a P.R. team to find a niche.
Diamonds on the other hand are ubiquitous in industrial applications.
I think it is one of those materials that will be everywhere eventually as it gets understood. It seems too simple a substance to not be widely useful.
My college Physics Professor was earned his PhD from Rice at the ripe old age of 26.
“Graphene is a zero-gap semiconductor, because its conduction and valence bands meet at the Dirac points. The Dirac points are six locations in momentum space, on the edge of the Brillouin zone, divided into two non-equivalent sets of three points. The two sets are labeled K and K’. The sets give graphene a valley degeneracy of gv = 2. By contrast, for traditional semiconductors the primary point of interest is generally Γ, where momentum is zero. Four electronic properties separate it from other condensed matter systems.”
Graphene is a two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. It’s known for its exceptional strength, flexibility, and high electrical and thermal conductivity. These properties make it a promising material for a wide range of applications, from electronics and energy storage to composites and coatings.
Who knew?.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Cheap enough and it might prove to make space elevators possible. Further lowering the cost of shipping people, goods and materials to orbit - or other planets.
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