Drying of an aerogel-based coating system in Swedish climates: Field tests and simulations

Aerogel-based coating mortars (ACM-systems) introduce new solutions for energy-retrofit of uninsulated building envelopes, preserving their characteristics while minimizing the material thickness. However, when introducing new solutions, the long-term durability needs to be investigated. The hygrothermal (heat and moisture) performance is one aspect that needs to be secured. The aim of this study is to investigate the hygrothermal performance, with specific focus on moisture drying, of an ACM-system for external applications in Swedish climates. A field test was conducted where an ACM-system with 40 mm of ACM was applied on the exterior of a brick masonry wall partition. The temperature and relative humidity in the wall were monitored for 15 months. Furthermore, numerical hygrothermal simulations were used to predict the early stage drying and long-term performance of the ACM-system in four Swedish climates. The field measurements showed that the built-in moisture dried out after approximately 6 months, after which the ACM-system followed the variations in the surrounding climate for the remaining period. The simulations predicted that the early stage drying time ranged from 134 to 336 days, depending on climate and time of application. Furthermore, the elevated relative humidity in the ACM due to rainwater absorption resulted in an average thermal conductivity of up to 9 % above the rated value. Consequently, mitigating water absorption at the exterior is crucial for enhancing the long-term thermal performance in high rain load scenarios.