- 25. April 2026
EASI ZERo partner Fraunhofer ISC Advances Innovative Waterglass Foam and PCM Capsules for More Sustainable European Construction
Fraunhofer ISC is developing two innovative products in EASI ZERo: waterglass foam for high-performance insulation and Phase Change Material (PCM) capsules for smarter thermal regulation. Together, they show how novel materials can improve energy efficiency while supporting more sustainable construction.
Waterglass foam: a promising new insulation solution
Waterglass foam is a high-performance insulation material with low thermal conductivity and a more sustainable profile than comparable materials currently on the market.
For building envelopes, this is particularly important. Effective insulation helps reduce heat loss, improve overall energy efficiency, and support lower operational energy demand. At the same time, waterglass foam addresses another key priority for the sector: reducing the environmental footprint of construction materials.
PCM capsules: thermal regulation with minimum-waste production
Fraunhofer ISC is also developing phase-change material (PCM) capsules, an innovative product that can help buildings regulate temperature efficiently.
A further innovation lies in how the capsules are produced. The PCM capsules are being developed using a minimum-waste manufacturing approach, supporting sustainability from the earliest stages of the product life cycle.
Designed for practical construction applications
A key advantage of both products is their integration potential in real building applications.
For example, they can be:
- mixed into renders
- used directly as filling materials in hollow bricks
This enables them to contribute to improved insulation and enhanced thermal performance in building envelope systems, both in new buildings and in building renovation projects.
Benedikt Schug, Head of Particle Technology at Fraunhofer ISC, highlights the practical value of these novel products:
“We have successfully validated the benefits of sustainability and innovative materials in practical construction applications.”
Supporting EASI ZERo’s vision for sustainable renovation and new construction
For EASI ZERo, this practical applicability is critical. Innovation must not remain in the laboratory; it must be scalable and ready to support the transformation of European construction markets.
These Fraunhofer ISC developments are part of the broader EASI ZERo portfolio of envelope solutions aimed at making high-performance, low-impact building systems more accessible across Europe.
To discover these innovative materials in person, sign up for the EASI ZERo final conference in Brussels here!