Chapter Summary and Conclusion

The preceding literature review highlights the theoretical overview of existing thermal insulation knowledge, before the research progresses into the experimental observation (empirical) stage. The purpose of this review is to examine the relationship between research into soap based thermal insulation, the petroleum chemical based alternatives, and an investigation into the literature data within this area. Against this background, this literature review also examines recently published and available information regarding oils, insulation derived from oils and bio-plastics from alternative sources. The findings from the literature have been analyzed to reveal the trends, facts, theories and misconceptions within the thermal insulation industry generally. Alongside a review of the components of each insulation type, the environmental impact of each insulation type is critiqued.

This review is justification for the direction this research will follow, and act as a signpost to the present study. The literature has contributed to the approach to this research in the following way. Namely, it offers choices and provides a balanced

approach as to why certain sustainable components are environmentally favourable

over some others. This may provide the reasoning as to why natural can be

construed as “better” than the man-made potentially toxic counterparts. Oil, petroleum and its chemical derivatives feature prominently in this research. This is because oil (and petroleum) play a major part in both the composition of plastic insulation, and as fuel for the insulation manufacture. It is also the main comparable to soap as defined in the research question.

The literature review also reveals that the thermal insulation market is large and diverse. Evidence suggests that there is an effort to drive forward the sustainability issues required to bridge the gap between fossil fuel derived as environmentally friendly. Animal rendering waste is only one such material under review, but this does however have the foundation potential for future research to build upon. Regarding the future of insulation research, new discoveries may follow. As will become clear, there are alternatives to fossil fuels and their derivatives, especially oil, which have begun to be explored (Meier et al, 2007). Sustainability encompasses the complete lifecycle from retrieval, manufacture and disposal. This is especially so for the thermal insulations listed. However, available data reveals that new technology research and global mindset change must be implemented to have any long term real effect. Research into the material properties and alternative thermal methodology with regards to soap may yet find its way into mainstream published data. In the main though, the thermal insulation market is still dominated by the bigger petroleum chemical based insulations.

The potential environmental implications of the crude oil components is significant because it actually supports the need for a soap alternative. Toxin release at the manufacturing stages and the problems associated with the end of life disposal for chemical waste may also have a bearing on the broader field of other petroleum derived materials. Financially the onus is with soap insulation, although its derivative components i.e. connective animal waste, still needs to be disposed of properly, although the environmental impact of this is dwarfed by petroleum based waste. However, there are limitations to this type of comparison approach. It is relatively simple to document the differences in both insulation types, but harder to identify the reasons as to why insulations made from potentially harmful chemicals dominate the market when other sustainable alternatives are available. One of the implications of

identifying the make-up of plastics is that this may lead to the dilution or omission of harmful components in the future manufacturing of petroleum insulations, whilst these insulations still perform to an acceptable standard. However, only testing will determine whether the thermal performance of soap can challenge the dominance of petroleum based plastic insulation in today’s market. Chapter three reveals the actual soap manufacturing process and chapter four highlights the basic initial testing that forms the basis for the soap’s physical properties and thermal performance improvements to be built upon.

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

The purpose of the research is to test the hypothesis that soap insulation can perform to the same standards as its petroleum counterparts. According to Leedy & Ormrod (2013) research begins with a question (1). This has been defined earlier in this thesis and is central to formulating the research hypothesis. Through research the goal is defined (2). The problem is then subdivided into separate but related sub- problems (3). Next, in this case, the research hypothesis speculates upon the outcome of soap insulation testing, with the aim of creating a workable alternative to the mainstream thermal insulations (4). This inductive reasoning (reasoning from detailed facts to general principles) is collected and organized, leading to the formation of the theory (5). Following this, the testable hypothesis is formulated, which will then answer the original research question (Leedy & Ormrod, 2013)

Ellis & Levy (2008) produced a cyclic research model that broadly follows the same lines as Leedy & Ormrod’s model. In the view of the author, this model offers a clearer route to understanding the rationale behind the problem based research cycle. For example, the research problem is the starting point and this establishes the limits or boundaries of the hypothesis. The hypothesis determines the methodology to be used. This in turn creates the results (which can be validated by the literature review). Refining this data leads to the conclusions, thus answering the research questions (Ellis & Levy, 2008). A problem based research model diagram (Fig.3.2) is shown below.

Figure 3.2: Problem Based Research Cycle (Elis & Levy, 2008)

It should be pointed out that the hypothesis can never be proven, but it can be verified or supported, eventually becoming a theory (Ellis & Levy). The thesis conclusion will be based on robust, solid evidential data following established scientific protocols, but the process of searching for the solutions to the problems will be achieved via research.