Eliminating our dependence on petrochemical based insulation materials
Material Research uses an approach based on innovation and sustainable resources
MilaFoam®
Recent tragedies have highlighted the dangers associated with the use of combustible insulation, giving rise to the interdiction of their use in high-rise residential buildings.
Material Research is developing a low-carbon, non-petrochemical and entirely non-combustible alternative to polyurethane derived foamed insulation. MilaFoam® will have comparable thermal insulation properties and characteristics to PIR foam, but at a fraction of the environmental cost
HempSil®
HempSil® is a unique bio-composite, developed and patented in our laboratory. Comprised primarily of hemp shiv, it is similar to hempcrete (hemp + lime), but instead uses a low- carbon binder to produce an insulating board with lower density and therefore better insulation properties.
It has several advantages over hempcrete, in that it does not require intensive drying and produces a more robust, durable rigid insulation board. The pore structure of hemp shiv allows the material to absorb and desorb water vapour, regulating indoor temperature and humidity.
These exceptional hygrothermal characteristics enable it to harness an effective thermal mass many times greater than its physical mass. In addition to outstanding thermal and acoustic insulation properties HempSil® is naturally fire retardant.
Background
The built environment is responsible for 38% of global carbon emissions, with 10% arising directly from the manufacture of products and materials used in the construction and maintenance of buildings. These embodied emissions are highly consequential to global warming because they occur ‘up front’, while the savings in operational carbon derived from energy efficiency measures are spread over future decades.
The pathway to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050 must include substitution of existing construction products with low carbon alternatives wherever possible. Likewise, the linear model of consumption needs to change to a Circular Economy where buildings are designed for adaptation and disassembly.
These challenges and others require a radically different approach to the materials that buildings are made from.
About
Material Research is creating low environmental impact products and systems for use in the construction industry. Our novel bio-composites are being developed for use as low-density infill insulation, a render carrier, plaster board and non-structural building blocks. They are already used in the ADEPT® modular system under development by our sister company Natural Building Systems
