RE:Progessive Plan and PyroGenesis The energy costs of producing nanoparticles were prohibitive, but the use of plasma torches to transform crystalline silica into amorphous silica offered promise.
The contract required Pyrogenesis to deliver 500 grams of converted silica. This material was delivered in early February 2024 and PLAN conducted testing and confirmed that the conversion had occurred with over 90% conversion.
The next step is to confirm that the powder is reactive as a supplementary cementing material (SCM). PLAN has scheduled the production of mortar cubes using the powder during the week of March 4, 2024. Full details of compressive strength and water demand will be released after the 28-day compressive tests are completed. PLAN anticipates releasing these results in the second week of April 2024.
Crystalline silica is one of the most abundant materials in the earth's crust and the ability to economically convert it into amorphous silica would offer a new supply of material to compensate for fly ash which is no longer being generated from coal fired power plants which are required to shut down in Canada before 2030.
"While this material still needs to prove its merit through compressive strength testing in cement mortars, I wish to acknowledge the effort made by the technical team at Pyrogenesis over the last two years to overcome hurdle after hurdle to reach the conversion rate of over 90%" stated Steve Harpur, CEO of Progressive Planet.