Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK/Ireland: UK-based Energystore has launched Spacebead, an expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead injected insulation containing aerogel and adhesive, on the UK and Irish markets. The Spacebead offers thermal conductivity of 0.029W/mK and is especially suited to use in limited cavity space. The producers say that this will help customers in the English market to easily conform to the upcoming Future Homes Standard for energy efficiency of new buildings there.

Iraq: Researchers found that a sawdust-clay composite reduced power consumption for cooling by up to 37% when used as insulation in test rooms in Kirkuk. In a paper published in the Scientific Reports journal, the team recorded a thermal conductivity of the material of 0.44W/mK. It noted the suitability of the material as a circular insulation alternative for construction in arid regions.

Germany: BASF is set to expand production of its Neopor graphite-enriched expanded polystyrene (EPS) at its Ludwigshafen plant in Rhineland-Palatinate by 50,000t/yr. From its commissioning in 2027, the expanded line will help BASF to meet increased demand for the material. Neopor serves as raw granulate for use in the production of insulation materials for building envelopes. The company says that it offers a 30% greater heat retention than traditional EPS.

Director Stephan Kothrade said "Neopor is classified as a 'Pioneer' in the highest category of the Sustainable Solution Steering (Triple-S) sustainability assessment which BASF uses to evaluate all its products, and is part of BASF's Sustainable Future Solutions."

Ireland: Kingspan says that its latest modifications to its GreenGuard GG300 insulation boards have further reduced their thermal conductivity to 0.033W/mK. Specification Online News has reported that the producer says that this will facilitate slimmer construction while still meeting U-values, especially important in high compressive strength-applications such as inverted roofs and flooring. Accordingly, the boards are now also available in a new, slimmer 180mm thickness. The entire range of GreenGuard GG300 boards integrates with Kingspan's BIM Designer software platform.

UAE: A researcher team at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has developed a novel bio-polyester insulation based on polyhydroxybutyrate derived from date pits. The material has a thermal conductivity of below 0.1W/mK, with 80MPa compressive strength and 6 – 14MPa tensile strength. EurekAlert News has reported that the materials is also below 6% water absorbant.

Team leaders Amal Mlhem and Thomas Teklebrhan said that the bio-polyester insulation can lower the CO₂ emissions of commercial insulation and offer a biodegradable alternative.

Germany: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research have developed a novel insulation from fungal mycelium. Professional Engineering News has reported that the materials are naturally woven by the mycelium filaments by which fungi spread. Researchers successfully varied fungus type, feed and environmental conditions to produce a range of performance characteristics comparable to conventional expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. Additionally, the materials offer high fire resistance and moisture regulation.