Topciment®’s firm commitment to R&D&I is unquestionable. An investment reflected in different initiatives aimed at increasing sustainability, efficiency and innovation in the construction sector. These include the “ECOATINGS” project, based on circular microcements and nanostructured hybrid biofilms that reduce industrial waste and VOC emissions; the “ZENEX” project and its sol-gel coatings reinforced with crystalline silica from industrial waste, which help reduce the concerning figure of 1,000 tonnes of grinding and polishing waste generated daily in the ceramic industry; and the “CLUSKER” project, with its innovative advanced ceramic tiles designed to eliminate microorganisms and bad odours. All of them are focused on what truly matters: e
Now, Topciment® is embarking on “TEMPCEM”. An initiative focused on the research and development of an innovative microcement with a sustainable approach and thermoregulating capacity. A decorative coating for interiors that aims to improve the energy efficiency of homes, buildings and commercial spaces by passively absorbing and releasing heat, helping to create more sustainable and comfortable rooms.
The TEMPCEM project, developed by Grupo Negocios PO, S.L., the company to which Topciment® belongs, is supported by CDTI (Centre for Technological Development and Innovation) and co-financed by the European Union within the framework of European Funds.
Thermoregulating and sustainable microcement
“TEMPCEM” highlights the benefits of microcement, a material that is often underestimated due to lack of knowledge. In this project, the functional value of this coating is enhanced, as it is often mistakenly believed to serve only a purely aesthetic purpose.
The innovative microcement around which the entire project revolves makes it possible to create more sustainable interior environments in homes, buildings and commercial spaces. In other words, greater thermal comfort combined with significant energy savings , thanks to the use of advanced materials and reduced dependence on conventional climate-control systems.
The main objective of the project is to obtain a new formulation based on sustainable and/or recycled materials, capable of reducing thermal transmission, improving interior comfort and lowering the energy demand associated with heating and cooling.
Objectives and priorities: cutting-edge technology and recycled materials for a greener future
With this project, we seek to transform the way we interact with spaces. “TEMPCEM” is based on the integration of phase change materials , such as PCM , together with highly porous materials of sustainable or recycled origin, including silica, cork, aerogels, rice husk ash waste, metal fibres from car tyres and other porous materials.
This combination allows the microcement to absorb and release heat gradually and in a controlled manner, adapting to temperature changes in the surrounding environment. A solution that reinforces the role of decorative coatings as active materials in improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
The project’s priorities focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, the circular economy and innovation in construction materials. To this end, “TEMPCEM” addresses the selection of functional raw materials, the development of laboratory-scale formulations, the evaluation of the thermal behaviour of test specimens, the adjustment of the application process on representative substrates and the validation of the solutions with the greatest technical and industrial potential.
The transformative capacity of “TEMPCEM” leads to reduced dependence on heating and cooling, as well as the promotion of passive technologies aimed at energy savings. The result? A more sustainable future thanks to lower carbon emissions and progress towards more responsible construction models.
Applied research into advanced materials for sustainable construction
The project falls within the thematic scope of advanced materials for sustainable construction, energy efficiency in buildings and the valorisation of sustainable and/or recycled materials.
The technical execution of the project has been carried out mainly in the Valencian Community, specifically at Topciment®’s facilities in Manises (Valencia, Spain). This approach reinforces the brand’s commitment to applied innovation, the circular economy and the continuous improvement of construction materials.
A natural, effective and efficient thermal barrier
One of the technical milestones of the “TEMPCEM” project consists of achieving a low thermal conductivity coefficient: 0.056 W/mK. A sufficient value to establish a natural and effective thermal barrier that limits heat flow both from outside to inside and vice versa.
This thermal behaviour makes the coating a solution with the potential to contribute to the passive improvement of interior comfort. In other words, a technology that does not seek to completely replace climate-control systems, but rather to reduce their demand and promote more efficient spaces through the material itself.
Driving change in the construction sector towards the architecture of the future
The aim is not only to improve the thermal performance of spaces, but to do so through real and urgently needed sustainability , based on the reuse of materials, the reduction of VOC emissions and the promotion of passive technologies.
With “TEMPCEM”, Topciment® further reinforces its firm commitment in this regard, encouraging more responsible construction with a lower environmental footprint and aligned with decarbonisation objectives. It is not about driving change, but about being part of that change, opening the door to a new range of products designed with both aesthetics and the planet in mind.
Budget, assigned funding and duration of the TEMPCEM project
The “TEMPCEM” project, supported by CDTI and co-financed by the European Union within the framework of European Funds, has a total implementation budget of €230,082.00 and assigned funding of €68,334.35.
Its implementation period has been 18 months , starting on 01/11/2024 and ending on 30/04/2026. The communication of this action is framed under the slogan “Europa Se Siente” , an initiative that highlights the impact of European Funds on projects aimed at innovation, sustainability and the improvement of the productive fabric.
Results of the TEMPCEM project
Throughout the execution of the “TEMPCEM” project, Topciment® has carried out different research activities aimed at creating new microcement formulations with thermal improvement capacity for interior applications.
The process has included the selection and evaluation of sustainable and functional materials, the development of laboratory-scale formulations and the manufacture of test specimens intended to analyse their behaviour against heat transmission. In addition, progress has been made in adjusting the testing methodology and optimising the coating’s application conditions on different substrates.
These activities have made it possible to identify formulations with improved thermal behaviour compared to conventional microcement, especially those based on the combination of lightweight, porous and sustainably sourced materials. These are solutions with the potential to passively contribute to interior thermal comfort and reduce the energy demand associated with climate-control systems.
“TEMPCEM” therefore represents a significant step forward in the development of more sustainable and efficient coatings aligned with the principles of the circular economy. A project that lays the foundations for future phases of optimisation, validation and industrial scaling, and once again positions Topciment® at the forefront of intelligent and sustainable coatings.