IRMA

How can inert demolition and industrial waste be used and repurposed in the production of refractory materials and non-combustible insulation?

The company IPSIIS has patented a process to produce insulating, non-combustible foams made from mineral-based materials. The commercialized product, derived from metakaolin and manufactured at its production site in Frameries, is intended for industrial furnace and still markets. Replacing part of the metakaolin with waste could lead the company toward more cost-effective products with broader applications and larger production volumes—such as building insulation.

IPSIIS has already confirmed the compatibility of certain waste materials (e.g., mineral wool, limestone sawing sludge) with its process. However, the properties of the foams in IPSIIS’s current commercial products have not yet been matched when using mineral waste in formulations. The objective of the IRMA project is to develop new porous materials (foams) incorporating these waste materials—once treated appropriately. The formulations must be optimized to meet the technical requirements of both current and future applications.

This project contributes to:

• Developing formulations that yield stable, refractory foams that meet technical standards for safety and protection of people and property

• Repurposing inert industrial and demolition waste, as well as other recycled resources