Soap based thermal insulation: A sustainable alternative to petroleum

The thermal insulation market is dominated by petroleum insulations. A gap has been identified for the manufacture of “green” insulations. These insulations must perform to the same levels of heat transfer resistance as their petroleum based counterparts. Modern petroleum derived insulations can be carcinogenic, toxic to manufacture and release toxins as they degrade. The majority are not environmentally friendly. The aim of this research is to create an insulation that combats the above points and addresses the gap between sustainable and non-sustainable insulations. This research will address the uncertainties in the alternative insulation validation process, achieved through experimental research. Soap will be manufactured from lye, animal fats and oils and aerated to produce soap insulation. These manufactured soap samples will be tested in both laboratory and real-world settings. Soap insulation could be a useful addition to low environmental impact insulation and create a foundation for further research to build off.