Author
Dr. Maurizio Corti, Ph.D., Director of Technology and R&D, Cannon Corporate
Summary
The R&D team at Cannon Afros has developed a groundbreaking type of Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP) made entirely from recycled rigid foam waste or end-of-life foam, achieving insulation capabilities 2 to 5 times better than the original foam. This innovation demonstrates that thermosetting foams, which are notoriously difficult to recycle, can be given new life in an economical and sustainable manner.
Introduction
Thermal insulation has traditionally been achieved using materials with a low mass-to-volume ratio and high porosity, consisting of numerous small air-filled spaces interwoven with fine solid structures. This configuration minimizes heat transmission by conduction, as the contact areas between solid components are fragmented and thin, forming very narrow thermal bridges.
In conventional thermal insulation, up to 85% of heat transfer occurs through convection, driven by the movement of air molecules within the porous material. Building regulations and refrigeration applications, such as refrigerators and cold storage units, demand increasingly efficient insulation to reduce energy consumption and achieve energy neutrality using renewable sources.
