Award Abstract # 2136493
SBIR Phase II: Mass Produced, Flexible Insulation for Non-Combustible Buildings and Other High-Temperature Applications

NSF Org: TI
Translational Impacts
Recipient: LIATRIS INC.
Initial Amendment Date: February 17, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: September 16, 2024
Award Number: 2136493
Award Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Program Manager: Ela Mirowski
emirowsk@nsf.gov
 (703)292-2936
TI
 Translational Impacts
TIP
 Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Start Date: March 1, 2022
End Date: August 31, 2026 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $999,495.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $1,697,997.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $999,495.00
FY 2024 = $698,502.00
History of Investigator:
  • Lida Lu (Principal Investigator)
    lida@liatrisinc.com
  • Arthur Yang (Former Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: LIATRIS INC.
5640 FISHERS LANE
ROCKVILLE
MD  US  20852-1737
(301)580-7421
Sponsor Congressional District: 08
Primary Place of Performance: LIATRIS INC.
1200 Corporate Blvd, Suite 10C
Lancaster
PA  US  17601-1292
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
11
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): PJ9WKMRVDDX6
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): SBIR Phase II
Primary Program Source: 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 169E, 8037, 165E, 5373
Program Element Code(s): 537300
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.041, 47.084

ABSTRACT

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is utilizing thermal energy management to simultaneously improve the affordability, comfort, and safety of buildings, with an initial focus on meeting urgent market demand for non-combustible building insulation. This project will focus on developing a lightweight, easy-to-install, non-combustible insulation product which is also eco-friendly and non-toxic. Structure fires represent 37% of all fires in the US. These fires caused $12.3 billion in property damage and 80% of civilian fire deaths. Wildfires in the Western US, where >$220 billion in residential construction is in ?extreme? wildfire-prone areas, add to the urgency of this situation. Mineral wool is the only non-combustible insulation product available today but requires personal protective equipment for installation and was recently classified as carcinogenic. Fully non-combustible building insulation is a high growth market, and the broader market for all types of non-flammable insulation represents a significant opportunity. This Phase II project seeks to cost-effectively increase the supply of energy-efficient, non-combustible buildings for both new and retrofit construction, while also addressing high-temperature industrial markets which have the most intensive energy use.

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to scale up a novel nanocomposite insulation product using a proprietary foaming process for inorganic aerogel-based insulation that minimizes shrinkage (thus maximizing porosity for insulation performance and minimizing material and processing cost). This approach leverages readily available materials such as clay and silica, as well as potentially renewable cellulose biomass, to produce an environmentally friendly, high performance insulation product for non-combustible buildings which is easy to install, lightweight, and non-toxic. Successfully scaling this approach on existing manufacturing equipment may solve a significant materials research challenge, creating organic-inorganic nanocomposites for thermal insulation with a competitive cost / performance ratio versus incumbent products such as fiberglass, mineral wool, and plastic foams. The Phase II project may result in the first industrially-engineered composite material for thermal insulation which is fully non-combustible. The integration of flexible polymers and radiation blocking additives would also enable use for high-temperature industrial pipe insulation, a critical energy-saving application where most existing products have significant limitations due to radiation loss.

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.

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