Solaron, being the first solar panel manufacturer in Armenia, paid special attention to the energy efficiency of buildings under construction and built. Since 2016, the company has been developing innovative solar energy solutions that improve the quality of life and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
To achieve maximum energy efficiency, an integrated approach to building operation is required, which implies the application of other solutions besides RES (Renewable Energy Sources),
among which quality thermal insulation takes an important place.
Today, buildings account for at least 40% of global energy consumption and more than 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions. Efficient thermal insulation together with the use of solar energy helps to minimize heat losses and reduces the consumption of resources for heating and cooling.
Building on the company’s mission to create a clean and green environment, Solaron initiated a research project to develop a PIR foam with improved performance.
This decision was based on the realization that PIR polyisocyanurate foam is the most promising material among today’s insulation products. Currently, PIR systems have gained wide popularity due to thermal conductivity, fire resistance, and environmental friendliness.
Polyurethane foam (PU) is a rigid polymer material that was first synthesized by German scientist Otto Bayer in early 1937. PU is a light and strong polymer consisting of many small closed cells: only 3% of its volume is occupied by solid material, while 97% is made up of gas-filled pores.
This feature makes it an excellent thermal insulating material, as the thermal conductivity of gases is much lower compared to solids, allowing it to effectively retain heat and cold.
PIR polyisocyanurate foam is a polyurethane foam with improved fire performance. The basis of PIR is polyisocyanate, which interacts with a polyol and a foaming agent to form a rigid foam with a closed cell structure.
In a world where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly acute, innovative PIR systems are becoming a powerful tool for global environmental strategy, enabling new buildings to radically reduce their carbon footprint.
The use of PIR opens up new opportunities in sustainable construction due to the following benefits:
PIR polyisocyanurate foam has an exceptionally low coefficient of thermal conductivity, making it the most efficient thermal insulation material on the construction market today.
The production of PIR uses less raw materials compared to traditional insulation materials to achieve similar thermal insulation performance. Due to the higher efficiency of the material, a smaller thickness of insulation is required, which results in
– material savings during installation
– lower load on load-bearing structures
– reduction of transportation costs and related CO2 emissions
– reduction of the space occupied by the insulation, which is especially important in urban areas.
PIR insulation extends the service life of buildings up to 50 years
– maintaining excellent thermal protection properties
– without deformation
– Remaining watertight
– without decreasing in performance over time
The strength and durability of buildings constructed with PIR helps minimize the environmental footprint of construction.
Modern PIR systems are designed to take into account the entire life cycle of the material, from production to disposal, thus minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The use of PIR in construction contributes to obtaining high ratings in international green building certification systems such as LEED and BREEAM.
PIR insulation demonstrates exceptional versatility in the construction industry, adapting to a wide variety of architectural and engineering challenges.
Solaron is in constant search of innovative solutions that will bring the world closer to a comfortable and sustainable future. It is this investment in research and development that allows the company to remain at the forefront of the industry and offer customers cutting-edge solutions.
Analyzing the components of a PIR system is the next step in improving the efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability of building solutions.
And at the same time, it is an ambitious and challenging task that requires significant resources, time and expertise.
The journey can be divided into two key, partially overlapping phases.
The first stage is researching current PIR systems and analyzing the market. This includes the use of artificial intelligence. This phase involves an in-depth analysis of existing solutions on the market, including a study of components and their characteristics. Additionally, it is planned to study market needs and trends in the construction industry, which will allow to outline development directions and understand what features and improvements will be in demand in the future.
The result of this research will be the formation of a clear understanding of the current level of technology and the identification of strategic directions for its own innovative development.
The second stage is formulation development. Once the research has been completed and development goals have been identified, work begins on creating the proprietary PIR formulation.
This stage includes the selection of polymer materials, modifiers, flame retardants and other additives that achieve the optimal combination of efficiency and environmental safety. Testing different formulations in laboratory conditions will help determine which combinations of components produce the best results.
Each step towards the development of new PIR systems is a contribution to the creation of an innovative material that will become a benchmark for quality and energy efficiency. Solaron is convinced that the resources invested in this project will bear significant fruit and allow us to offer the market a solution that, together with the use of solar energy, will maximally meet today’s requirements for sustainability, safety, and energy efficiency.
