Schuster Concrete recently tested SusMaX's lightweight aggregate, SPORA, for internal curing applications. Two types of concrete mixes were prepared: a typical control mix and a mix with a 15% replacement of coarse aggregates using saturated SPORA to promote internal curing. The evaluation of fresh properties revealed that the SPORA-incorporated concrete achieved a 17% higher slump, enhancing workability due to the spherical shape of SPORA, which has a low surface-to-volume ratio. Furthermore, SPORA-incorporated concrete samples achieved 14% and 22% higher strength at 7 and 28 days, respectively, compared to control samples. This increase in early-age strength is attributed to the internal curing effect, as SPORA's absorption capacity of 25% provided extra water for cement hydration. The promising results highlight SusMaX's product potential to improve concrete performance in internal curing applications.

SusMaX was thrilled to conduct lightweight aggregate trials in collaboration with Schuster Concrete. Our team, including founder Mo Balapour, Ph.D., and Robin Deb, Ph.D., visited Schuster Concrete to test our innovative aggregates in concrete applications. We were also excited to connect with Henry Prenger, P.E., FACI of Holcim US. We extend our gratitude to Robert Buelt for facilitating this trial and making it possible.

SusMaX conducted a second successful manufacturing pilot of SPORA in Frackville, PA with Gilberton Power Company in early February 2024. During this second pilot test, we continued to verifiy the consistency of SPORA’s technical properties. Engineering properties like its dry specific gravity, water absorption, and unit weight were preserved in our larger manufacturing batch size.

This test showed that SusMaX’s technology can be successfully applied to samples of off-spec fly ash with different chemical compositions. Our second pilot test allows us to continue providing samples to our potential customers, increase stakeholder confidence about the viability of SusMaX’s technology, and bring our product closer to its commercial debut.

SusMaX was recently featured in an article published by The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The article highlights how SusMaX is breaking the status quo of the lightweight aggregate industry with our new sustainable manufacturing technology and how SusMaX will provide performance and cost benefits to our customers. Check out the article to learn more about our technology, our funding through the National Science Foundation (NSF), and how we’re catalyzing the commercialization of more sustainable concrete materials

SusMaX conducted a pilot manufacturing of its novel lightweight aggregate called SPORA in April. During this pilot, we successfully manufactured 400 Ibs of SPORA. Our planned manufacturing methods, tested only previously at a lab scale, were easily and successfully implemented at a scale 50 times larger than what we achieved in the lab. All the engineering properties of SPORA including, dry specific gravity, water absorption, and unit weight, scaled with our manufacturing.

This pilot material enabled us to provide samples to a handful of our ready-mix concrete customers for concrete testing in their labs. This successful pilot brings SusMaX one step closer to the tonnage-scale production needed for full commercialization.

Drexel University has selected the first Drexel-affiliated startups to receive support from its Innovation Fund. Among them is SusMax, which will receive a $150,000 investment from the Fund to begin commercializing its stronger, more sustainable aggregate.

Singapore Management University's (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) today announced the Revolutionary 50 (RVLT50) finalists who will present their world-changing innovations to a judging panel during the Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) Finals Week, from 11 to 15 September 2023 in Singapore.

Held biennially, the LKYGBPC is one of the largest university-led startup competitions in Asia with a mission to empower youths through innovation and entrepreneurship to create deep-tech solutions to solve urgent global challenges of the 21st century.

The Heritage Group (“THG”) Accelerator today announced that seven companies have been selected to participate in its 2022 hard tech accelerator program at THG’s innovation hub in Indianapolis. The chosen companies are focused on building a sustainable future through innovation in specialty chemicals, advanced materials, infrastructure and construction, environmental solutions, and industrial systems.

SusMaX's pitch impressed the judges in the Drexel Startups Fund competition and won the company a $25,000 award. SusMaX will use this award for a pilot-scale production of lightweight aggregate from waste coal ash to demonstrate the scalability of its technology and manufacturing process.

SusMaX LLC received a $256,000 SBIR Phase I grant from National Science Foundation to further develop and scale-up its thermodynamics-guided technology for recycling waste coal ash into construction lightweight aggregate!