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A new eco-friendly composite sandwich panel incorporating phase change materials and silica aerogels improves thermal inertia by reducing periodic thermal transmittance by 16% and increasing time shift by 92%, while providing a 38 dB sound insulation rating. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

July 28, 2025Sustainability4 citationsOpen Access

Eco-Friendly Sandwich Panels for Energy-Efficient Façades

SSS.P.B. SousaInstitute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Mangement HTHelena TeixeiraInstitute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Mangement GAGiorgia AutrettoPolytechnic University of Turin

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Abstract

To meet the European Green Deal targets, the construction sector must improve building thermal performance via advanced insulation systems. Eco-friendly sandwich panels offer a promising solution. Therefore, this work aims to develop and validate a new eco-friendly composite sandwich panel (basalt fibres and recycled extruded polystyrene) with enhanced multifunctionality for lightweight and energy-efficient building façades. Two panels were produced via vacuum infusion—a reference panel and a multifunctional panel incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) and silica aerogels (AGs). Their performance was evaluated through lab-based thermal and acoustic tests, numerical simulations, and on-site monitoring in a living laboratory. The test results from all methods were consistent. The PCM-AG panel showed 16% lower periodic thermal transmittance (0.16 W/(m2K) vs. 0.19 W/(m2K)) and a 92% longer time shift (4.26 h vs. 2.22 h), indicating improved thermal inertia. It also achieved a single-number sound insulation rating of 38 dB. These findings confirm the panel’s potential to reduce operational energy demand and support long-term climate goals.

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