Grantee Research Project Results
VOC-free, Highly Flame Resistant HybridSil™ Insulation Coatings for Next Generation Thermal Insulation and Energy Efficiency
EPA Contract Number: EPD12025Title: VOC-free, Highly Flame Resistant HybridSil™ Insulation Coatings for Next Generation Thermal Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Investigators: Baranauskas, Vince
Small Business: NanoSonic Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012
Project Amount: $80,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Green Buildings , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The objective of this Phase I SBIR Program is to develop VOC-free, spray-depositable HybridSil™ insulation coatings for providing next-generation thermal insulation and energy efficiency within commercial and residential buildings. The proposed coating technology will serve as a replacement for currently employed polyurethane-spray foam coatings yet provide orders of magnitude greater thermal insulation; environmentally friendly, VOC-free spray deposition processes; validated flame protection; biofouling resistance; and superior mechanical durability. Upon deposition, NanoSonic’s HybridSil™ foams will expand within seconds to provide lightweight coatings that permeate wall cavities to provide thermal insulation and air sealing for the lifetime of the building structure, thus reducing energy consumption while providing zero indoor air pollutants. This program will build from established non-halogenated HybridSil™ technologies that have passed ISO 9705 room corner burn tests to obtain qualification as “fire restricting” per the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well as have thermal conductivities below commercially available polyurethane foams (< 50mW/mk), elastomeric resilience (recover from 1000% deformation) and ballistic impact durability. To meet this challenge, NanoSonic will augment its high-temperature HybridSil™ nanoporous materials for use as low-cost, VOC-free foams that may directly displace currently employed polyurethane foams, as well as have the capability of rapid integration using currently employed spray equipment. Rapid Phase III transition to commercial integration will be facilitated through an established HybridSil™ pilot-scale manufacturing infrastructure capable of producing more than 8,000 lbs resin/day.
Supplemental Keywords:
air sealing, energy efficiency, flame resistance, green buildings, indoor air pollution, insulation coatings, thermal insulation, polyurethane foam, VOC-free insulation coating, SBIR, polyurethane-spray foam coatingProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Voc-free, Highly Flame-resistant HybridSil® Insulation Coatings for Next-Generation Thermal Insulation and Energy EfficiencyThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.