The most significant results of the ISOBIO Project consisted of:
• Creation of a novel bio-based insulation material with some highly interesting characteristics including:
o Lightweight and rigid, with higher strength than competitive products
o Capable of acting as a render carrier
o Resistant to fire
o Excellent moisture buffering capability
o Low thermal conductivity combined with high specific heat capacity
o Capable of high-volume manufacture in a continuous process
o Lower cost than competitive products
This product is now ready for scale-up and CAVAC, the manufacturing partner, are developing approaches to take this exciting material to full-scale production and marketing.
• Creation of a novel insulating render system with some highly interesting characteristics including:
o Lightweight render with low thermal conductivity
o Cost-effective and straight-forward to apply
o Resistant to fire
This product is now ready for scale-up, and BCB, the manufacturing partner, will be adding it to their product line for marketing and sale in France and elsewhere in the EU.
• Creation of a novel insulating clay plaster with some highly interesting characteristics including:
o Lightweight plaster with low thermal conductivity
o Cost-effective and straight-forward to apply
o Resistant to fire
o High moisture buffering capability
This product is now offered as part of the range of clay plasters being manufactured and marketed by CLAYTEC, the manufacturing partner.
From a scientific point of view, the work undertaken by the research partners has led to the development of new characterisation techniques for use with bio-based materials, and a deeper understanding of the structure and hygrothermal performance of bio-based aggregates. The development of hygrophobic and fire resistant nano-coatings using the sol-gel process has advanced our knowledge and understanding of the use of this process with bio-based materials. These insights have been published in peer reviewed journals, and will be used by the scientific community to further develop the use of bio-based materials in the field of construction.
The communication efforts have helped to widely promote the project. They have included a combination of active social media presence, wide-ranging journalistic articles and engaging communication materials. The production of a Video News Release, which was taken up by 11 TV stations, helped to bring the ISOBIO results into the living rooms of Europeans.
Project partners have been extremely active in disseminating the project results. This includes journal papers, conference presentations, exhibitions, stakeholder events and bilateral meetings. In the final period this included exhibiting at the ECTP conference in Brussels, the production of a construction details manual by Progetic, and a final project event held in Brussels.
• 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals
• 30 conference papers
• 59 presentations of ISOBIO results to…
• 5000+ stakeholders at international conferences
