High-Performance Vacuum Insulation Panel: Development of Alternative Core Materials

Energy efficiency of the built environment greatly depends on the performance of the insulating materials used in the building envelope construction. Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) offer excellent thermal resistance properties that can enhance the energy efficiency of the insulating systems and provide savings in energy consumption. However, VIP systems are virtually unknown and rarely used for building construction in North America. There is a need to investigate the use of VIPs in various components of building envelopes and their long-term performance. The National Research Council, Canada, Institute for Research in Construction is investigating a number of fundamental aspects related to the performance and construction of VIPs, which this paper discusses. More specifically, it reviews the underlying basics behind the functioning of VIPs and presents results from the investigation into the development of alternative core materials for VIP construction.