HempSil®
Material Research has recently published their patent for HempSil®, a bio-composite which makes use of a lower carbon binder than conventional hemp-lime.
This binder greatly reduces the water demand and results in lower densities and lower thermal conductivities. HempSil® can readily be manufactured into panels, render carrier boards, and even plasterboards as well as the more conventional insulation infill and building blocks.
HempSil® was developed as an insulating infill for Natural Building Systems’ ADEPT® sustainable panelised construction system and the obvious advantages that it has over hemp-lime has resulted in the development of an entire range of ultra-low-carbon building materials:
Insulation Infill
This is the ‘traditional’ low density cast version of HempSil® which can be used anywhere instead of hemp-lime, with dramatically lower initial water content and lower thermal conductivities
Building Blocks
These are lower density equivalents of hemp-lime building blocks, which can be manufactured more quickly and with a lower environmental impact
Insulation Board
This is a lightly compressed version of HempSil® that can me made into insulation boards of a range of thicknesses
Render Carrier
This is a compressed version of HempSil® that can be used as a render carrier
Plaster Board
This embodiment uses a finer fraction of hemp which is compressed into thin boards that can be used as plasterboards. There is a variety which includes a thin layer of MilaFoam® to confer additional fire resistance
Internal Fire Resistant Walling Panels
Utilising a MilaFoam external layer will be available with a pre-formed joint so that 100mm or 150mm thick panels can be stacked to rapidly form fire resistant internal thermal and sound insulating dividing walls.
Hemp Wool Panels
We are working on a non-cement based alternative to woodwool panels using our lower carbon binder and larger fractions of hemp shiv
