Material Source
Source, recycled content and manufacturing route must be checked for the selected gypsum product.
Gypsum Reduction Research
Exploring customer-developed alternatives to conventional board systems.
Explore the potential of aerogel powder in customer formulations for lower-gypsum, gypsum-free or alternative boards. This research asks how thermal requirements, mechanical performance and material use could be balanced within a complete board system.
See What Must Be Tested
Established Construction Route
Gypsum board is an established construction system.
Gypsum-board composition and sourcing vary by product and market. Some products use primary mineral sources and some may include recovered material. Weight, transport, installation and environmental impact must be assessed using current product-specific evidence.
Board Weight
Traditional boards add material mass that must be handled, transported and supported.
Moisture Considerations
Performance varies by board type, finishing system and exposure conditions.
Evidence Framework
Questions that guide a useful comparison.
A useful comparison considers the complete board and its purpose. The aerogel routes below are research opportunities; verified product data, system testing and lifecycle evidence are needed to compare performance and environmental impact.
| Property | Gypsum Board | Aerogel Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Primary material source | Product-specific; commonly mined or recovered gypsum | Silica aerogel platform; alternative feedstocks are a research focus |
| Typical product format | Established rigid sheets and boards | Dry aerogel powder platform for customer-led formulations |
| Weight profile | Measured for each selected board and system | Must be established for the proposed customer-developed board; we manufacture powder, not finished boards |
| Installation method | Established product-specific methods | Still to be developed and validated for each application |
| Thermal performance | Based on the selected board and complete wall system | Testing is required for each future formulation and system |
| Moisture behaviour | Depends on board grade, detailing and exposure | Not yet established for a finished formulation or system |
| Raw-material circularity | Depends on supplier and recycled content | Rice-husk silica and solar-panel recovery are research programmes |
| Space efficiency | Depends on the required complete-system build-up | Assessed for the finished board and complete system |
| Commercial status | Established product category | Availability to be confirmed for the intended formulation |
Research Pathway
Exploring alternative boards with manufacturers.
Our focus is aerogel powder for customer formulations. We welcome board manufacturers exploring lower-gypsum, gypsum-free or other composites. Research considers performance, binder compatibility and lifecycle impacts; a gypsum replacement or environmental advantage has not been established.
Weight Objective
Balance binder content, reinforcement and aerogel loading against the board's weight and mechanical requirements.
Material Format
One dry powder for customers to evaluate in compatible formulations and application concepts.
Circular-Input Research
Our circular-material programmes explore agricultural resources and recovered silica.
Thermal Design
Match the board composition and thickness to insulation targets using evidence for the finished system.
Gypsum May Suit
Conventional lining and established board systems
- Standard internal partitions and familiar installation workflows
- Projects designed around conventional board dimensions
- Applications where board lining is the main requirement
Aerogel Research Opportunities
Space-conscious insulation concepts
- Projects willing to participate in controlled development and testing
- Irregular surfaces and application-specific formulation research
- Projects with thermal and lifecycle evaluation requirements
Project Support
Build a clear, application-specific comparison.
Our team can discuss your board concept and the technical information needed for a fair comparison.