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Building insulation is currently one of the biggest challenges to reduce energy consumption. Saving energy also means reducing the human impact on Environment. In order to reduce this impact, the manufacturing of the building materials is of importance. Moreover, policies, laws and regulations keep evolving in this direction. Mineral insulation foams are mainly composed of cement or gypsum. In mentioned context, an evolution of mineral insulating foams is necessary. This paper proposes promising low carbon mineral foams. The insulating foam, produced by a direct foaming method, aims at having a thermal conductivity lower 0.065W/m/K combined with a compressive strength higher than 0.2 MPa. Therefore, in this research, binder has been replaced by hydraulic lime and used with a bio-sourced foaming agent, locally produced. Limestone Clay Fines (LCF), considered as waste, have been added in the formulation up to 25% of the binder and LCF addition also improved the foaming of the mixture by more than 70%. 12,5% of Sulfo-Aluminous Cement (SAC) was used and has a key role in the setting process. Superplasticizer was also used to reduce water consumption, which accounts for half of the total mass of raw materials, and allows quantity adjustment of SAC. Mixing process choices and more precisely mixing equipment, can also have a significant impact. Indeed, the use of whisk, in place of a blade, produces more quickly a 28% lighter foam. Comparing with other insulating materials, this mineral foam presents one of the lowest CO2 equivalent emissions and also one of the lowest drinking net water consumptions. Moreover, the specificities of this insulating foam pores give to this new material interesting acoustic performances. Indeed, the processed foams are five times better acoustically than aerated concrete. In fact, the internal structure of the mineral foam absorbs up to 80% of low wavelengths. • Thermal conductivity of the studied foams reaches until 0.053W/m/K • Acoustic absorption is above 80% between 400Hz and 1500Hz • A foam was designed with a carbon footprint of 10.63 KgCO2eq/m3
CROO et al. (Fri,) studied this question.