West Virginia Executive Spring/Summer 2020 | Page 42

gets hot sees any water or salt. That eliminates corrosion.” Touchstone Research Laboratories is also developing protection systems for rockets to allow them to be launched in any weather conditions. “All rockets are covered with thermal protection systems on the outside to protect from extreme temperatures,” says Joseph. “We’ve invented the first one that also protects from lightning, so rockets can be launched in any weather.” Joseph launched Touchstone Research Laboratories in the basement of a monastery with a scanning electron microscope he bought for $100 and a dream. Forty years later, the company is a leader in innovation and aspires to continue moving the state’s economy forward. “I think we, as a state and as a country, are coming to the realization that the coal-to-products market is essential not only to the coal industry but to the advanced materials of the 21st century,” he says. “We are presented with a challenge to our imagination. The opportunity in front of us is to reinvent the way we think of coal to create an even better future.” • Ramaco Carbon By Samantha Cart As researchers continue to look for alternative ways to use coal that reach beyond energy generation, West Virginia stands out as a prime location for their facilities. In January, Governor Jim Justice announced during his State of the State address that Wyoming-based carbon technology company Ramaco Carbon would be opening a new research facility in the West Virginia Technology Park in South Charleston. The lab will be used to advance early-stage research on harnessing the carbon found in coal to create products such as carbon fiber, graphene and graphite at a lower cost. “We will be conducting bench-level testing that relates to our carbon fiber research at the South Charleston facility,” says Randall Atkins, Ramaco chairman and CEO. “We envision working in that facility until we outgrow it. As we expand from the lab to pilot testing, we are exploring other places in Charleston and around the state where we might be able to put a pilot facility.” Creating new markets for coal and increasing demand will be a huge boost to West Virginia’s economy. While the facility was positioned to start operations in March, the date was pushed back to this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. In June, Ramaco announced it had formed a five-year coal-to-products cooperative research and development agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the country’s largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, to explore innovations in converting coal to high-value products and materials. Chris Deweese Sharp Shooters Class of 2020! Charleston 304-343-4126 Morgantown 304-554-3371 Parkersburg 304-485-6584 40 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE