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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Cellulose Insulation

Fire retardant cellulose insulation is produced by shredding old newspapers and treating them with a combination of chemicals. Insulating material is blown into walls and attics to form a fiber layer which blocks the flow of air. All-Weather Insulation's founders asked NASA/UK-TAP to help. They wanted to know what chemicals added to newspaper would produce an insulating material capable of meeting federal specifications. TAP researched the query and furnished extensive information. The information contributed to successful development of the product and helped launch a small business enterprise which is now growing rapidly.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1978

The effect of fire retardants on the fire response characteristics of cellulosic materials

The resistance to ignition of fire retardant-treated wood, cotton, and cellulose insulation was studied. The proprietary composition used to treat wood was found to increase resistance to ignition and to reduce smoke toxicity. Cotton treated with boric acid (added by padding on or by vapor phase process) was found to have increased resistance to ignition and decreased smoke toxicity. Boric acid increased the resistance of cellulose insulation to ignition but also slightly increased the smoke toxicity.

Hilado, C. J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

High Performance (R-10/inch) Clay-Cellulose-Silica Nanopore Insulation Board For New and Retrofit Buildings (Final Scientific Report)

The objective of Liatris’s 3-year DOE BENEFIT project was to develop and validate a high-performance, lightweight, aerogel-based insulation board of ≥R-10/inch at a cost of ≤$\$$1.50 per board foot using non-flammable inorganic nanocomposites. We have summarized each yearly goal below: Year 1 – Ambient dried inorganic/organic nanocomposite, R-6/inch Year 2 – Processing efficiency and cost down, R-8/inch at $\$$2.0/board-ft Year 3 – Scale up to continuous, pilot production of R-10 at ≤ $\$$1.50/board-ft Over the course of the project period, Liatris has successfully met or exceeded all of the goals outlined above. The project scope over 3 years was extensive, covering method development of ambient dried silica aerogels in Budget Period 1, process formulation and R-value improvement in Budget Period 2, and composite scale up with corporate partners in Budget Period 3. Over the course of the project Liatris has been able to progressively improve the thermal resistance properties from about R-6/in to > R-11/in, 2-3X the performance of conventional insulation products.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spray Manufacturing Thermal Insulation Composites

Cellulose-based thermal insulation materials present significant potential for modern green building applications due to their inherent carbon sequestration properties. However, traditional manufacturing of composites often results in the limited thermal insulation performance and embodied carbon footprint due to an increased density from material shrinkage and higher energy consumption during the water-based slurry drying process. Here, we report solvent spraying coupled with dry powder feedstock to manufacture highly porous silica/straw insulation composites. The manufactured composite exhibits negligible shrinkage with the density of 0.08 g/cm 3 , thermal conductivity of 27.8 mW/(m·K), flexural modulus of 3.1 MPa, and compressive modulus of 0.89 MPa. Additionally, the prepared composite demonstrates fire retardancy (burning rate of 0.5 mm/min) and recyclability (99%). Furthermore, this solvent-spraying strategy opens up opportunities of energy-efficient insulation materials for carbon-sequestration building sectors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Tailoring biogenic straw insulation from additive manufacturing

In the pursuit of carbon-storing materials that could help accomplish high levels of building sustainability, wheat straw has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuel-based building materials. Straw is 100% biodegradable and abundant agricultural waste used in the construction 400 years ago, and it has been reported to have the lowest embodied carbon when measured against other typical insulating materials. Here, in this study, we report additive manufacturing of carbon-sequestration insulation panel materials by upcycling cellulose fibrils from wheat straw. Cellulose obtained from alkaline and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-mediated oxidation shows thermal conductivity of 0.036 W m -1 K -1 , alongside elastic and flexural modulus of 900 MPa and 502 MPa, respectively. In addition, an in-situ hydrophobic treatment in the cellulose-based insulation panels is achieved with an average water contact angle of 133.7° Furthermore, the extrusion-based additive manufacturing of a 3D-printable ink obtained by mixing the cellulose and silica aerogel precursor is accomplished, with the printed material exhibiting structural integrity, thus showing great potential towards the development of state-of-the-art, sustainable materials for carbon-sequestration building applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Highly silanized cellulose biocomposites for sustainable insulation materials

Microfibrillated lignocellulose networks, derived from agricultural byproducts, represent an environmentally friendly biogenic material production due to their abundant availability to circular bioeconomy and inherent carbon sink in life cycle analysis. Yet, its vulnerability to moisture and flammability, coupled with challenges in creating highly reinforced insulation materials, poses challenges for the carbon-zero green building sector. Here we address these challenges with a new concept of in-situ grafting polymerization of nanoporous silica in pre-formed lignocellulosic fiber networks. The seamlessly integrating nanoporous silica with cellulose through hydrogen bonding networks enabled us to prepare highly reinforced biogenic composites for green building insulations. A high reinforcement biocomposite with hierarchal arrangements of nanoporous silica within the cellulose network exhibits remarkable attributes. It boasts a thermal conductivity of 24.2 mW·m –1 ·K –1 , a flexural modulus of 942 MPa, and soundproofing with a 20.8 % noise reduction, as well as the fire resistance characterized by an extended time to ignition and a reduced peak heat release rate of 144 kW·m –2 at 35 kW·m –2 of incident radiant heat flux. Furthermore, it demonstrates a reduced water absorption capacity, dropping from 5.12 g·g –1 to 0.75 g·g –1 . Altogether, this study opens the new pathways towards sustainable carbon-zero building materials in the context of circular bioeconomy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Carbon-Sequestration Straw Cellulose-Aerogel Gradient Thermal Insulation Material

Green superinsulation materials are essential for net-zero sustainable building envelopes. Realizing such potential is indispensable for simultaneously achieving carbon-sequestration and superinsulation performance. Here, we report the synthesis of a water glass-based silica aerogel exhibiting a thermal conductivity of 17.2 mW/m·K and a high porosity of 92%. Here, we used carbon-sequestration wheat straw fiber to create a gradient cellulose-aerogel composite to improve mechanical stability. The as-prepared gradient composite exhibits a thermal conductivity of 27.1 mW/m·K and a flexural modulus of 824 MPa, while exhibiting superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of 135.4°) for the development of green building insulation materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Growing Insulation in Alaska

Buildings produce 40% of all carbon emissions in the U.S. This includes the energy needed to heat, cool, and power the nation's buildings and the energy used to manufacture, ship, and assemble the construction materials. In extreme climates and remote regions, buildings use even more energy, as building materials must be produced and shipped farther to the site, increasing the greenhouse gas emissions embodied in the buildings. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing technologies that reduce how much energy our buildings use and how much carbon goes into them in the first place. NREL researchers teamed up with the Biomaterials Laboratory at the University of Alaska, U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Lab, and the VTT Centre of Finland on a three-year project to "grow" insulation using trees in Alaska - improving the efficiency of buildings by providing envelope retrofit options using local resources.

carbon negative building↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flame retardant biogenic building insulation materials from hemp fiber

Biogenic thermal insulation materials are in high demand because of its carbon-sequestration nature. However, high flammability, moisture condensation, and relatively high thermal conductivity of biogenic material are major concerns for sustainable building applications. In this study, we report the fire-retardant cellulose xerogel insulation nanocomposites derived from hemp fiber recycling and silica xerogel, in which the boric acid treatment improves its fire retardancy. The as-prepared materials show a low thermal conductivity of 31.3 mW/m K, high flexural modulus of 665 MPa, hydrophobicity with the water contact angle of 115°, and fire retardancy with 30% weight loss over a period of burning time 10 min. Overall, this work provides an effective method for the synthesis of fire-retardant biogenic thermal insulation materials and shows a promising way for next-generation bio-based insulation materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Flame-retardant cellulose-aerogel composite from agriculture waste for building insulation

Bio-based thermal insulation materials are in high demand due to their availability, reproducibility, and carbon-sequestration nature. However, high flammability, moisture condensation, and high thermal conductivity of biogenic material are major concerns for sustainable building applications. In this study, we report the fire-retardant cellulose aerogel insulation nanocomposites derived from wheat straw and silica aerogel, in which sodium bicarbonate improves its fire retardancy. We combined blended straw fibers and hammermilled straw fibers to create a structural hierarchy composite. The blended straw, with its longer and thicker size, served as reinforcement, while the hammermilled straw fibers acted as filler. This hierarchical structure was further integrated with aerogel for applications in green buildings. The as-prepared materials show a low thermal conductivity of 24.1 mW/m.K, high flexural modulus of 736 MPa, hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 110.42°, and excellent fire retardancy. Altogether, this work provides an effective method for the synthesis of fire-retardant biogenic thermal insulation materials and shows a promising way for next-generation bio-based insulation materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Final Technical Report

The project goal is to demonstrate low-cost, interlocking, and carbon-storing insulation materials with thermal insulation of R5/inch, flexural modulus > 10 MPa, low material price < $ 0.5/ft2 wall area (materials cost for ½” thick panel), and net embodied carbon of 0.8t net CO2e/t (60% reduction compared to gypsum), respectively, which can meet the cost and performance targets of department of energy (DOE)’s 2050 climate target. To achieve this goal, the project plans three tasks, and each has a specific objective: 1) Modular design and engineering analysis of interlocking insulation panel blocks using biogenic materials (cellulose, straw, etc.): with the consideration of potential assembling and recycling. 2) Scalable manufacturing of biogenic-based interlocking insulation panels: scale up the modular panel production using ambient pressure drying and surface superhydrophobic modification at 1ft*1ft with the potential for further scalable mass production of 4ft*4ft. 3) Code-compliant testing, recycling and carbon footprint analysis of manufactured interlocking insulation panels examined using ASTM standards of thermal insulation (ASTM C518), mechanical properties (ASTM C1161), and water vapor transmission (ASTM E96).

Ren, Shenqiang↗
DOE OSTI2026

Local Resource Assessment: Beetle-Killed Spruce in Alaska

This report synthesizes forest inventory and spatial data from federal and state sources to present a snapshot of beetle-killed spruce across Southcentral and Interior Alaska. This natural resource is under investigation for use in cellulose-based products, particularly building insulation. Research funded by the Department of Energy's ARPA-E program, has successfully developed insulation - Celium - using beetle-killed spruce combined with mycelium, the root network of fungi. The resulting insulation product can be manufactured locally and used across all Alaskan climate zones for residential, commercial, and shipping applications. Removing standing dead wood also contributes to wildfire risk reduction and mitigates associated public health impacts. This Local Resource Assessment, funded by the Denali Commission, contextualizes and reconciles unaligned forestry data sources, establishing a pathway to refined, replicable analysis and, ultimately, presenting estimates of beetle-killed spruce biomass to inform the potential scale and development of a Celium industry.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Tailoring Nanoporous Silica and Natural Straw Structural Insulation Composites

Nanoporous silica exhibits ultralow thermal conductivity as a result of its nanoscale pore size, high pore volume, and specific surface area. In this study, we report the self-assembled surfactant-templated synthesis of nanoporous silica, which is integrated with cellulose fibers derived from natural straw to manufacture high thermal insulation and mechanically robust nanocomposites. The nanocomposite shows a low thermal conductivity of 22.5 mW/(m·K), a compressive modulus of 0.93 MPa, and a hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 125°. Moreover, we observed a marked reduction in water absorption capacity and a carbon footprint of 0.21 kg CO 2 equiv/kg. Here, this study provides a pathway toward the development of nanoporous structural insulation materials for energy-efficient building applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2014

Polyimide Cellulose Nanocrystal Composite Aerogels

Polyimide (PI) aerogels are highly porous solids having low density, high porosity and low thermal conductivity with good mechanical properties. They are ideal for various applications including use in antenna and insulation such as inflatable decelerators used in entry, decent and landing operations. Recently, attention has been focused on stimuli responsive materials such as cellulose nano crystals (CNCs). CNCs are environmentally friendly, bio-renewable, commonly found in plants and the dermis of sea tunicates, and potentially low cost. This study is to examine the effects of CNC on the polyimide aerogels. The CNC used in this project are extracted from mantle of a sea creature called tunicates. A series of polyimide cellulose nanocrystal composite aerogels has been fabricated having 0-13 wt of CNC. Results will be discussed.

Aerogels↗
DOE OSTI2026

Oil-impregnated densified wood veneer with high electrical insulation enabled by nanosized oil channels

Growing energy demands and renewable integration are stressing the aging power grid infrastructure. Lignocellulosic oil-impregnated paper is widely used in power transformers but suffers from critical limitations, such as low dielectric strength, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity, causing premature transformer failures. Here, we demonstrate a superior electrically insulating oil-impregnated paper design using the naturally anisotropic structure of densified wood veneer to achieve nanosized channels of oil that efficiently disrupt electrical breakdown pathways. The developed oil-impregnated densified wood (ODW) creates aligned cellulose fibers with 166 ± 87–nanometer oil nanochannels, achieving record dielectric strength of 105 kilovolts per millimeter. The structure also delivers a mechanical strength of up to 384 megapascals and a thermal conductivity of 0.33 watts per meter per kelvin, enabling enhanced longevity upon thermal aging tests. The ODW could replace conventional transformer insulation to enhance power transformer performance and improve lifetime. Moreover, its anisotropic oil-filled nanochannel design offers a general strategy for hybrid dielectrics in medium- and high-voltage applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bioinspired Dry‐Steam Superinsulation Straw Foam

Abstract Cellulosic materials offer sustainable advantages for building energy conservation. However, their development has been hindered by reduced thermal performance, often caused by structural collapse during the transition from solution to solid. Inspired by natural goose down, a bio‐based, lightweight insulation foam derived from agricultural waste straw is presented. Through in situ synthesis, bio‐silica fibers with branched structures capable of supporting hollow silica microspheres are fabricated. After steam‐mediated processing, the resulting foam exhibit low density (95 mg cm − 3 ), high porosity (95.5%), low thermal conductivity (0.03 ± 0.003 W mK −1 ), and a cyclic compressive strength of 90 kPa at 50% strain. Owing to the synergistic microstructure formed by branched bio‐fibers and hollow silica spheres, the bio‐silica foam exhibit outstanding thermal insulation performance relative to other bio‐based foams prepared by ambient drying. A passivated insulation panel is further developed by incorporating this material as the core component, achieving a thermal conductivity of 0.0275 W mk −1 and flexural strength of 6.85 MPa. The panel demonstrated durability with stable thermal performance throughout a 60‐day outdoor test. Moreover, the bio‐silica foam shows a carbon footprint of 7.50 kgCO₂ kg −1 at 70.2 wt.% silica, highlighting its promise as a sustainable insulation solution for green buildings.

Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeling the impact of high thermal conductivity paper on the performance and life of power transformers

Degradation of insulation paper is a key contributor to the failure of power transformers. Insulation degradation accelerates at elevated temperatures, which highlights the potential for better thermal management to prolong life. While several studies have analyzed the benefits of high thermal conductivity oil for reducing temperatures inside a transformer, this study is an initial assessment of the benefits of high thermal conductivity paper on transformer life. Blending particulates with cellulosic fibers offers a pathway for high thermal conductivity paper (with good dielectric properties), which can reduce internal temperatures. Presently, life extensions that can be achieved by the use of such thermally conducting papers were estimated, with the thermal conductivity of the paper being the key parameter under study. The analytical-numerical thermal model used in this study was validated against experimental measurements in a distribution transformer, adding confidence to the utility of the model. This model was then used to provide estimates of hot-spot temperature reduction resulting from the use of papers with higher thermal conductivity than baseline. Transformer life was predicted conventionally by tracking the degree of polymerization of paper over time, based on an Arrhenius model. Results indicate that increasing the thermal conductivity of paper from 0.2 W/mK (baseline) to 1W/mK reduces the hot spot temperature by 10°C. While degradation significantly depends on the moisture and oxygen content, the model shows that such a temperature reduction can increase life for all conditions, by as much as a factor of three.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2012

Polyolefin-Based Aerogels

An organic polybutadiene (PB) rubberbased aerogel insulation material was developed that will provide superior thermal insulation and inherent radiation protection, exhibiting the flexibility, resiliency, toughness, and durability typical of the parent polymer, yet with the low density and superior insulation properties associated with the aerogels. The rubbery behaviors of the PB rubber-based aerogels are able to overcome the weak and brittle nature of conventional inorganic and organic aerogel insulation materials. Additionally, with higher content of hydrogen in their structure, the PB rubber aerogels will also provide inherently better radiation protection than those of inorganic and carbon aerogels. Since PB rubber aerogels also exhibit good hydrophobicity due to their hydrocarbon molecular structure, they will provide better performance reliability and durability as well as simpler, more economic, and environmentally friendly production over the conventional silica or other inorganic-based aerogels, which require chemical treatment to make them hydrophobic. Inorganic aerogels such as silica aerogels demonstrate many unusual and useful properties. There are several strategies to overcoming the drawbacks associated with the weakness and brittleness of silica aerogels. Development of the flexible fiber-reinforced silica aerogel composite blanket has proven one promising approach, providing a conveniently fielded form factor that is relatively robust toward handling in industrial environments compared to silica aerogel monoliths. However, the flexible silica aerogel composites still have a brittle, dusty character that may be undesirable, or even intolerable, in certain applications. Although the cross-linked organic aerogels such as resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF), polyisocyanurate, and cellulose aerogels show very high impact strength, they are also very brittle with little elongation (i.e., less rubbery). Also, silica and carbon aerogels are less efficient radiation shielding materials due to their lower content of hydrogen element. The present invention relates to maleinized polybutadiene (or polybutadiene adducted with maleic anhydride)- based aerogel monoliths and composites, and the methods for preparation. Hereafter, they are collectively referred to as polybutadiene aerogels. Specifically, the polybutadiene aerogels of the present invention are prepared by mixing a maleinized polybutadiene resin, a hardener containing a maleic anhydride reactive group, and a catalyst in a suitable solvent, and maintaining the mixture in a quiescent state for a sufficient period of time to form a polymeric gel. After aging at elevated temperatures for a period of time to provide uniformly stronger wet gels, the micro porous maleinized polybutadiene- based aerogel is then obtained by removing interstitial solvent by supercritical drying. The mesoporous maleinized polybutadiene-based aerogels contain an open-pore structure, which provides inherently hydrophobic, flexible, nearly unbreakable, less dusty aerogels with excellent thermal and physical properties. The materials can be used as thermal and acoustic insulation, radiation shielding, and vibration-damping materials. The organic PB-based rubber aerogels are very flexible, no-dust, and hydrophobic organics that demonstrated the following ranges of typical properties: densities of 0.08 to 0.255 grams per cubic centimeters, shrinkage factor (raerogel/rtarget) = 1.2 to 2.84, and thermal conductivity values of 20.0 to 35.0 mW/m-K.

Lee, Je Kyun↗