What can we do with mountains of coal ash? Materials science engineers are working on an idea. By combining the fly ash component with a polymer and heat-treating it, the toxic soot becomes a fireproof, lightweight, structural building material.
NGSS Performance Expectation: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.*
Discussion Questions:
- What is coal ash?
- Why is it considered an environmental problem?
- What is the difference between fly ash and bottom ash?
- What percentage of coal ash is fly ash?
- What problem are the engineers in the video trying to solve?
