THEcore · Thermally efficient, cost-reduced nanostructured foams for vacuum insulation panels

Thermally efficient, cost-reduced nanostructured foams for vacuum insulation panels

Energy supplies and global warming are two of the most important challenges that the world will face in the years to come. In Europe, buildings account for almost 40% of total energy consumption with the majority being consumed by the household sector (heating, air conditioning, refrigeration). Therefore, due to their very low thermal conductivity, advanced thermal insulation products provide an essential contribution to improve energy efficiency and conservation of valuable resources. By reaching a remarkable thermal conductivity of typically of 4 mW/m·K, Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) are by far the most effective thermal insulation material. Besides the high insulation capacity, the high volume reduction by VIPs increases usable space, eases waste disposal, lowers extra logistic costs and transport emissions while reducing the energy needed to keep the temperature at a desired level. The most used core material for long-term applications fumed silica. This material can maintain a stable thermal conductivity for pressures up to about 10 mbar and a centre of panel thermal conductivity as low as 8 mW/m·K at 100 mbar. However, it has also some drawbacks, considering its high price (accounting for up to 50% of the end user price) and relative high density (typically 180 - 200 kg/m3). The search for lightweight, submicrometic open pore materials at low production costs has been a challenge for the scientific VIP community. THEcore project is on the cutting edge of such materials technology as it has testing and adapting completely novel open and fine porous polymeric insulation foams (SUMFOAM), for use in VIPs. Overall optimum properties that were pursued included low density, open porosity, good handling and low cost production. Laboratory prototypes of the SUMFOAM-VIP show similar thermal conductivities as compared to fumed silica ones, are easy to be evacuated and can be manufactured using similar production process as for the commercial VIP cores. During the project the researcher had the opportunity to gain valuable theoretical and practical skills in the field of insulation materials, while introducing new methodologies for the preparation and characterization of materials at the R&D laboratory. These are now being used as basic tools for a systematic study and comparison of new materials, as well as for the continuous development of products. The researcher also had the opportunity to improve her leadership and management skills, becoming since the end of the MSCA-IF grant the new R&D team leader. Therefore, the MSCA action offered the necessary tools and opportunities for the career development of the researcher.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз