【Haichuan Chemical New Technology Expo】Application of inorganic plasticized microporous insulation panels in building insulation to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction
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After workers abrade one side using a spray gun at a temperature of up to 1000°C for an extended period of time, the other side feels normal to the touch at room temperature, showing no change at all； Soaked in water for half an hour, then cut in half; aside from being wet on the surface, no moisture penetrated into the inner layer at all ； On the display wall on one side, workers used iron tools to try and damage it, but the panels remained firmly attached to the wall, while panels made of other materials came off easily... This was the scene witnessed by a reporter on April 17 at the Xinzheng factory of Zhengzhou University of Technology High-Tech Materials Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhengzhou University of Technology Technology”). This is not an ordinary sheet of material; it is an \"inorganic plasticized microporous insulation board\" developed by professors and doctors from Zhengzhou University, representing an achievement with independent intellectual property rights. It overcomes the global challenge of not being able to achieve both \"insulation\" and \"fire resistance\" at the same time.
This sheet of material is so amazing; what is it made of? On site, Zhao Zhenbo, a senior engineer and chairman of Zhengzhou University of Technology Science & Technology, told reporters that the raw materials used in the production of inorganic plasticized microporous insulation boards are 40% industrial micro-powder, 50% Portland cement, and 10% admixtures. “The reason for its flame resistance and stable performance is that we use essentially inorganic materials. ”Zhao Zhenbo pointed to the four ball mills on the production line: \"The reason for its excellent thermal insulation properties lies in these four ball mills. Each ball mill operates for 15 minutes, and after 60 minutes of wet grinding, the fineness of the materials reaches over 1,000 mesh. This ensures that there are 140 billion pores per cubic meter of the product, with pore sizes of less than 0.1 millimeters; hence, this product is known as an inorganic microporous insulation panel.\" ”
Micrograph of inorganic plasticized microporous insulation board
To help the journalists understand, Zhao Zhenbo explained, “The average wall thickness of these bubble pores is 45 micrometers.” ”Projected through a projector, billions of pores can be clearly seen under a microscope; they are so dense that they resemble a \"solid wall of copper and iron\". A brand-new nitrogen generator on the production line caught the journalists’ attention. “This is one of our most important ‘secret weapons’. ”Zhao Zhenbo said that when the production line was completed, they conducted experiments with great enthusiasm, only to find that after the cement was ground with water, \"hydration heat\" was generated, causing the temperature at the center of the green body to rise above 80 degrees Celsius; sometimes it even reached 93 degrees Celsius. “If the temperature is too high, it will expand during shaping, causing the green body to crack. If this problem is not resolved, it means that all the research achievements achieved so far have been in vain. ” The R&D team, including Zheng Juanrong, an expert in building materials and professor at the School of Civil Engineering of Zhengzhou University, and Li Haiyu, deputy chief engineer and professor-level senior engineer at Zhengzhou University Comprehensive Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., was momentarily confused. After thorough research and investigation, they eventually drew inspiration from the use of liquid nitrogen for cooling concrete. Realizing that nitrogen is an inert gas, they thought that replacing the air in the working environment with nitrogen might solve the problem of heat generation during hydration. Through repeated experiments, they finally achieved success.
Inorganic plasticized microporous insulation board after soaking
Subsequently, they overcame the challenge of requiring a pulling strength for the insulation material of over 0.1 MPa, and ultimately developed an \"inorganic plasticized microporous insulation panel\" that possesses both insulation and fire-resistant properties, as well as excellent safety and environmental benefits. This panel is now widely used throughout the province. “There is a global consensus on \"energy conservation and emission reduction,\" and China has pledged to the world to achieve \"carbon neutrality\" by 2060. And insulation of building exterior walls is an important method for energy conservation in buildings. On March 16, 2021, the General Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the \"Guidelines for Green Construction Technologies (Trial)\\", which stipulate that materials with high strength, high performance, high durability, corrosion resistance, and aging resistance should be given priority in use. This approach aims to extend the service life of buildings, reduce the frequency of component replacements, lower raw material consumption in the long term, and achieve emission reductions at the source. “This also provides policy and technical support for the widespread use of inorganic plasticized microporous insulation panels. ”Zhao Zhenbo said that thanks to the efficient fire resistance, thermal insulation properties, and stable structural safety of inorganic plasticized microporous insulation panels, it is possible to avoid the economic costs associated with having to redo the insulation work once or even twice after the 25-year useful life of traditional insulation materials and systems expires, as well as the negative impacts on people’s lives and work. At present, the **Standard for Application Technology of Inorganic Plasticized Microporous Insulation Board Systems**, in which Zhengzhou University of Technology’s Science and Technology department is involved in its development, is currently being drafted. It is expected to pass review and come into effect in the near future, potentially bringing about a new revolution in the use of insulation materials for energy-efficient buildings. Reporter from Henan Daily App: Tan Yong
Netizen comment: This is foamed ceramic, which requires firing at a temperature of around 1500 degrees; natural gas is used as fuel, the cost is very high, and environmental regulations are extremely strict. The product is an excellent insulating material, but there are still some connection methods that need to be overcome in construction applications before it can be used in walls. The main problems at present are the high mass-production costs, pollution control during the production process, and integrating it with building structures – these will be the biggest challenges!
Netizen comments: These new types of composite materials cause significant environmental pollution when they are discarded
Netizen comment: Just applying a few thin layers of aerogel paint should be enough to achieve this effect. There are so many factors to consider: price, stiffness, lifespan, environmental performance, ease of installation, and market acceptance!
Indeed, amateurs watch the excitement while experts see the underlying principles. At first, I thought this technology was amazing, Lex; but after reading the comments from netizens, I realized it still has many flaws.