In the backwash of theGrenfell Tower tragedyin 2017 , when a block of flats in London went up in flaming , toss off 72 people and wound 70 more , building proprietor worldwide are expect to rip out the inflammable facing like the sort that allow the blast to spread and replace it with something safer . They ’ve had to face up the realness of a choice between expensive replacements , and options so heavy they are hard to install . Even before the disaster , however , Dr Kate Nguyenof the University of Melbourne was seek something better , and now exact she has the solvent .
The facing of the pillar closure , a layer of material that provides thermal insulation and conditions resistance , try out so flammable , the fire cauterize for 60 minute , the worst residential fire in the UK since World War II .
Nguyen told IFLScience when she was ask to bring forth a non - combustible organic material her first reply was that it was impossible . Many people had tried . However , she append , “ Because we ’re researcher we said ' Army of the Pure give it a go . ' ” Nguyen was animate by teach that electric cables admit ceramic particles , and when exposed to inflame these transform to prevent the material burning .
The cable insulating material is n’t suitable for what Nguyen needed , but it offer somewhere to start . She lead off experimenting with different component for the ceramic , testing them to find a combining that , when seed through cheap and lightweight plastics , would meet the international standards exam of baulk 750ºC ( 1,382ºF ) high temperature .
Eventually , Nguyen found one promising enough to strain . “ When it authorise our first test I was excited , but even after the fifth sentence I still could n’t quite believe it , ” Nguyen said in astatement . The material has already been independently tested and happen to suffer international standards .
When manufactured , the ceramic front like benighted specks in the light grey charge card , but when exposed to in high spirits temperature they turn the whole material dingy , while preventing fire taking hold .
Nguyen told IFLScience the ceramics ' composition remain a closed book while patent are being apply for . Meanwhile , she is working on trying to build up a rendering that can be sprayed onto surfaces , providing far greater flexibility , peculiarly in buildings that have already been constructed , but now need to meet higher prophylactic standards .
Nguyen is also look at thrive the body of work to other coating , such as a heat resistant solid food packaging .
However , with so many tall building needing to substitute their cladding , there is plenty of potential demand for Nguyen ’s product . The topic is so topical aFire Safety and Cladding Summitwas held this calendar week , at which Nguyen presented her body of work .
University inquiry like this often has problem finding commercial spouse , irrespective of its potential , but Nguyen was put onto the musical theme by insulation panel producerEnvirosip . She read the independent challenge at this point is finding a manufacturer who will give rise the product in large enough quantity for economies of graduated table to make it competitive .
