What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
A research team reported making a mechanically stable, non-flammable foam from poly(acrylic acid) and calcium salts. That is a promising materials result, not evidence that the foam is a certified building product or available to buy. The published work describes how it is made and reports pores around 220 micrometers; the University of Stuttgart identified insulation as a possible future use in buildings, vehicles, and electronic housings.
What is mineral plastic foam?
“Mineral plastic” is the researchers’ name for a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)–calcium salt material. In their 2021 paper, Philipp Menold, Helmut Cölfen, and Cosima Stubenrauch describe making a porous foam from this material. They write: “We describe a route to synthesize a mechanically stable, non-flammable poly(acrylic acid)–calcium salt (the so-called mineral plastic) foam whose structure can be tailored.” The paper’s abstract and publication record present this as a materials-research result.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The name does not mean the foam is a conventional plastic product or that it is made from a naturally occurring mineral. It identifies the PAA–calcium salt composition studied by the authors.
How is the foam made?
The route uses a temporary hydrogel structure to create the foam’s pores. The paper describes three main stages:
#1 Best Overall
- 6lb/ft^3 Rockwool ProRox SL960 Mineral Wool - 3 sheets of strong, rigid stone wool insulation
- Heavy insulation is excellent at absorbing sound, is fire resistant, and insulates well. Can be used in sound recording studios as it is has excellent sound dampening qualities.
- Cuts easily with a knife. Great for sound deadening enclosures or room insulation, building fire rated light boxes, or any project that needs heavy fire rated insulation.
- Size: 3 sheets of 12" x 12" x 2"
- Similar to Owens Corning Thermafiber. Made in North America by Rockwool, a global leader in premium mineral wool.
- Foam a PAA-containing solution. The aqueous mixture is first made into a foam.
- Gel the continuous phase. The liquid between the bubbles is turned into a hydrogel, preserving the porous structure.
- Dry the hydrogel foam. Drying produces the solid mineral plastic foam.
The University of Stuttgart’s 2020 account gives a more specific description of mixing sodium carbonate solution with polyacrylic acid and calcium chloride, then foaming and gelling the mixture before hardening the hydrogel into a porous foam. The university announcement describes the development and its proposed applications.
What did the researchers report about fire behavior?
The authors characterize their foam as non-flammable. That is a claim about the material reported in the paper; it does not establish a fire classification or show that a wall, roof, vehicle, or device assembly containing it meets a particular code or safety standard. The sources available here do not report a product certification or standardized assembly rating.
Rank #2
- Designed for Sound Absorption Echo Control: the dense, porous stone wool structure helps absorb sound energy and reduce unwanted reflections, echo, and reverberation; Ideal for improving room acoustics and creating a cleaner, more controlled listening and recording environment; Sound absorption performance varies by thickness, installation method, and frequency
- for DIY Acoustic Panels: build customized acoustic treatment for your space; Simply cut the stone wool board as needed, place it inside a wood or suitable panel frame, wrap it with acoustically transparent fabric, and install it on the wall or ceiling—an excellent core material for DIY broadband acoustic panels and room treatment projects
- HIGH-DENSITY 80kg/m³ STONE WOOL CORE – Made with dense 80kg/m³ (5 lb/ft³) stone wool, these rigid insulation boards provide a solid, shape-retaining core ideal for building DIY acoustic panels. The high-density fiber structure makes the boards easy to fit into frames while providing a professional foundation for acoustic treatment projects
- Ideal for Studios, Home Theaters Podcast Rooms: a versatile acoustic treatment material for recording studios, vocal booths, podcast rooms, home theaters, music rooms, rehearsal spaces, offices, gaming rooms, and more; Use it to create wall panels, ceiling clouds, and other DIY acoustic treatments where better sound control is needed
- More Than Acoustic Performance: stone wool provides a combination of sound absorption, thermal insulation, heat resistance, and dimensional stability, making these boards suitable for both acoustic and insulation projects; Easy to cut and customize for different applications; Always wear appropriate protective equipment when cutting or handling stone wool
Hydrogels are not automatically fire-retardant as a class. A 2022 review notes that pure hydrogels generally have low fire retardancy and that performance often relies on modifications, additives, or hybrid structures. The review surveys distinct technologies; it is context for the wider field, not independent confirmation of this foam’s performance in a building. Read the review of fire-retardant hydrogels.
What other properties were reported?
- Porous structure: the paper reports pore sizes around 220 micrometers.
- Mechanical stability: the authors describe the foam as mechanically stable, but the cited materials do not provide enough comparable product data to rank it against commercial insulation.
- Acid dissolution: the solid foam can be dissolved in acidic solution, which the authors identify as a possible recycling route. This does not by itself demonstrate a complete, practical recycling system.
The paper’s findings concern the material it describes. They should not be read as evidence of long-term weather or moisture durability, thermal performance, field performance, or suitability for a specific installation; the cited sources do not establish those points.
Rank #3
- 6lb/ft^3 Mineral Wool - 3 sheets of strong, rigid stone wool insulation
- Heavy insulation is excellent at absorbing sound, is fire resistant, and insulates well. Can be used in sound recording studios as it is has excellent sound dampening qualities.
- Cuts easily with a knife. Great for sound deadening enclosures or room insulation, building fire rated light boxes, or any project that needs heavy fire rated insulation.
- Size: 5 sheets of 24" x 24" x 2"
- Similar to Owens Corning Thermafiber and RockWool. Imported.
Could it be used for insulation?
Potentially, but the evidence supports a possible application rather than a ready-to-install product. The University of Stuttgart proposed insulation uses in building construction, vehicles, and electronic-device housings. Its announcement also quoted a forecast of 579 million cubic meters of insulation materials globally by 2025 and more than 200 million cubic meters in Europe. Those figures were a forecast cited in 2020, not a current measured market size.
To assess the foam for a real project, buyers and engineers would need comparable data such as thermal conductivity, reaction-to-fire test results and ratings, strength, moisture and weather durability, production scale, recycling arrangements, and price. The cited sources do not provide enough information on these measures to compare it fairly with established insulation products or claim that it is better.
Rank #4
- High-density Mineral Wool Core: designed with a dense 80kg/M³ (5.0lb/ft³) structure from natural stone-based mineral fibers, these mineral wool panels resist sagging and deformation while maintaining their original shape; Suitable for walls, ceilings, studios, garages, and DIY insulation applications
- Effective Soundproofing Acoustic Control: the dense fiber structure helps absorb sound waves and reduce echoes, making these acoustic insulation panels ideal for recording studios, home theaters, music rooms, offices, and other spaces needing better sound management
- HIGH-DENSITY 80kg/m³ STONE WOOL CORE – Made with dense 80kg/m³ (5 lb/ft³) stone wool, these rigid insulation boards provide a solid, shape-retaining core ideal for building DIY acoustic panels. The high-density fiber structure makes the boards easy to fit into frames while providing a professional foundation for acoustic treatment projects
- Fire Resistant Stone Wool Material: constructed from stone wool insulation Board, this fire resistant insulation board is designed for heat-related applications; Suitable for fireplaces, furnaces, equipment areas, and other projects where thermal protection is important
- Multiple Applications: these mineral wool insulation boards are suitable for larger coverage and flexible use; Designed for garages, workshops, studios, theaters, renovation projects, and residential insulation upgrades
Is mineral plastic foam available to buy?
The cited sources do not establish current commercial availability, manufacturing, installation, or licensing. In July 2020, the University of Stuttgart said the team had filed a patent application and was looking for industrial partners to produce the foam at scale. That announcement records the team’s plans at that time, not a current partnership or production program.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Patent database pages display DE102020002914A1 as withdrawn and WO2021228996A1 as ceased. These are database status fields, not a determination of legal status; anyone making a decision that depends on patent rights should check the official registers. German application DE102020002914A1 and international publication WO2021228996A1 are the corresponding database records.
Best Value
- 6lb/ft^3 Rockwool ProRox SL960 Mineral Wool - 10 sheets of strong, rigid stone wool insulation
- Heavy insulation is excellent at absorbing sound, is fire resistant, and insulates well. Can be used in sound recording studios as it is has excellent sound dampening qualities.
- Cuts easily with a knife
- Size: 10 sheets of 24" x 24" x 1"
- Similar to Owens Corning Thermafiber
For now, treat mineral plastic foam as a research-stage material with proposed insulation uses. The available evidence does not identify a current manufacturer, retailer, or active scale-up partnership.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
