Sustainable Design with Coconut Soil

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Natural Expandable Insulation/Padding

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oferbendo...

Posted by oferbendov - Last updated on 12-12-2014

Use the expandability property of the compressed granulates in combination with natural adhesives or starch to create insulation or padding layer

Most Insulation & padding materials used today for wall or roof Insulation are based on synthetic foams (many Petroleum based). This is also the case with padding materials, especially in the packaging sector. If natural adhesives or starch could be added to the Coconut granulates or pads, then they would retain the expanded shape after drying. If the expansion could be controlled by a mold, or be contained by other structural components of the wall for example, than the insulation layer could be “grown” at the site.

Such a product would save the use of fossil fuels to produce the synthetic foams and also will solve the end-of-life challenges of these foams.

Some of the challenges that will have to be solved in developing such a product are how to provide the water necessary for the expansion without damaging other materials, and how to dry it when it has fully expanded. Also, how to seal the insulation layer for it to be effective. 

Comments

  1. Das Das 13-12-2014 16:19

    Hi Oferbendov, Sounds like a good idea! A unique application for the coco-soil, solving a crucial problem. Congrats :) Regarding the concern of drying after full expansion: Instead of water, an alcoholic base may be used to dissolve the adhesives/starch so that it evaporates quickly leaving well bound coco-soil behind. Even thermosetting resins may be used for this purpose, i think.

  2. Celia Celia 08-01-2015 15:14

    Dear Participant! Thank you for sending your idea. And what such you expand your solution with new suggestions, informations, etc. to improve for your final solution?

  3. oferbendov oferbendov 08-01-2015 21:38

    Dear Celia I apologize but I do not understand the question/request. Can you please explain or rewrite? Thanks Ofer

  4. Celia Celia 19-01-2015 12:33

    Dear Participant Thank you for you sent your idea. Now you can go thinking how to improve the final solution. Do not forget that the challenge there is some phases. And then you should add some improvements or changes to become more and more its attractive. Thank you Célia