Prof. Kitagaki received the Review Article Award from the Society for Material Life for a review paper he co-authored as a committee member of JIS A 1491, “Method for Evaluating Convergence Values of Long-Term Thermal Insulation Performance of Building Insulation Materials.” Thank you very much. Prof. Kitagaki authored the section on the long-term performance of foam plastic-based insulation materials. In this paper, based on domestic and international research trends regarding the evaluation of long-term insulation performance, we summarize test methods for evaluating the long-term performance of insulation materials, regardless of whether they are fiber-based or foam plastic-based. (In the section on foam plastic-based insulation materials—which he authored— also briefly discuss how the long-term thermal insulation performance should be considered.)
While energy efficiency in buildings is becoming increasingly important these days, The research field is gradually dividing into two distinct areas: environmental research, which simulates the “thermal performance of the building” after insulation has been installed; and materials research, which seeks to understand, organize, and investigate how insulation installed within a building changes over the long term—and the mechanisms behind these changes—as a complex interplay of various factors (such as temperature, humidity, ventilation, and wall specifications).
Furthermore, The mechanisms behind changes in insulation performance are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of the combinations of conventional factors (temperature, humidity, ventilation, wall specifications) and the varying intensities of these parameters, making a materials science-based approach even more essential. On the other hand, through a series of studies on the long-term performance evaluation of insulation materials—regardless of whether they are fiber-based or plastic-based—we are gradually beginning to understand installation specifications and construction methods that make it easier to maintain long-term performance.
It has been five years since Prof. Kitagaki began researching foamed plastic insulation materials. At that time, he was conducting research on construction-used polymers—such as coatings, adhesives, and waterproofing materials—with a focus on UV and thermal degradation, and insulation materials were practically the last thing on his mind. It was around that time that a professor in the field of rheology informed him about an open call for research proposals. He became deeply immersed in the topic of foamed resins, expanding his research beyond degradation to include synthesis as well. Additionally the opportunity to assist in the development of a JIS standard for long-term performance, leads to receiving an award for this review paper. Thank you very much. We hope to continue dedicating to research aimed at advancing this industry fields and solving its challenges.
Title: Review article Evaluation of Long-Term Performance of Building Insulation Materials
Journal of the Society for Material Life, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 25–31 (2025):
