SBIR Phase I: Machine to fabricate a bioinspired insulation material: The Concatenator

Owlfly, Frenchtown NJ

Investigators

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the development of a novel, and more benign than fiberglass, thermal insulation technology for use in homes across the United States. Improvements in insulation technology have the potential to reduce energy use nationwide, along with all carbon emissions associated with the production and transmission of that energy. According to the Energy Information Administration, 51% of all residential energy in the United States is used for heating and cooling living spaces, which amounts to about 11% of the total energy consumption of the country. This project aims to use the principles of biomimicry to develop a more effective batt insulation. Unlike other insulation materials, unprotected exposure by the insultation installers will not aggravate respiratory issues, which is increasingly important for homeowners and working people who suffer from the long-term effects of COVID-19. This project seeks to push the potential and affordability of this new technology while creating new American jobs. The project is inspired by the nests of yellowjacket wasps that live in pockets of permafrost high above the Arctic circle. The nests are protected from extreme temperatures by the hollow wall structure surrounding the nest’s interior. This structure can be adapted to create insulation panels that are highly efficient, lightweight, water-resistant, non-combustible, non-toxic, non-dusting, and irritant-free. The project focuses on the development of such a thermal insulation material in an efficient way to keep its price point competitive with the current products. This involves designing a manufacturing machine capable of producing the new insulation quickly and consistently. To further push the thermal performance of the material, the company will also develop a complementary machine that can scan insect specimens in museum collections to assess biological structures that are highly reflective in infrared wavelengths and use the data to address management of radiative heat transfer. The team will apply a six-sigma approach to quality control for improving the insulation manufacturing process. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.