CARBIP-LIFE

Circular Aerogel Reusable Building Insulation Products

The CARBIP-LIFE project aims to demonstrate the industrial scale application of new, sustainably produced and circular composite aerogel-based insulation materials in the construction sector. Specifically, the CARBIP-LIFE consortium will demonstrate the application of these insulation materials in a new, designed for disassembly, patented insulated double walls (IDW) system that will be used for the construction of 100% circular and high thermal performant concrete facades for buildings.

Specific objectives of the project are to

• Demonstrate the industrial scale production of new, composite aerogel-based insulation materials using four different waste streams (recycled cellulose fibres, glass wool fibres, stone wool fibres and expanded polystyrene) within a local supply chain;
• Demonstrate the application of the new insulation materials in circular IDW products, including monitoring of the thermal properties and environmental impact of the resulting products;
• Demonstrate the circularity and sustainability of the new composite aerogel-based insulation materials and the new type IDW Walls products, with a view to reducing global warming potential by 67%;
• Communicate the benefits of the composite aerogel-based insulation materials and circular IDW prototype system, while highlighting positive technological and environmental improvements and results; and
• Ensure sustainability, replication and exploitation of the project results after the end of the project, including through the development of an after-LIFE conservation plan, exploitation plan and replication strategy.

Results

By the end of this project, the goal is to have an operational demo plant comprising in total three reactors of 2500 litres, such that a continuous production line of three reactors in series can be installed to produce gel, which then continuously gets solvent exchanged and dried into 600 ton aerogel per year.

Impact

• A new demo plant will be operational for the continuous production of new, composite aerogel based insulation materials.
• These new, composite aerogel-based insulation materials will be applied in the market to PU/PIR plate shaped materials, to provide an alternative for these materials with the same thermal performance, but significantly improved environmental properties.
• The composite aerogel-based insulation materials will be applied in the new, designed for disassembly, 100% circular IDW products of CRH SCB.
• The LCA and EPD data of the new insulation materials and IDW products will be documented in BIM databases and material passports will be made available, stimulating knowledge sharing with regard to the new technical and environmental properties of the products.

More information and news can be found on the website.

The CARBIP-LIFE consortium:

CRH Structural Concrete Belgium

Aerobel