Construction material comprising a hydrogel

Abstract

Construction material comprising a hydrogel comprising a polymer, inorganic salts and water. Use of the construction material as an insulator and / or thermal energy storage.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Building material comprising a hydrogel

[0003] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0004] The object of the invention relates to construction materials.

[0005] PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

[0006] Hydrogels are stable, water-insoluble, three-dimensional cross-linked networks, giving them a remarkable capacity to absorb both water and biological fluids. Current applications of hydrogels include wastewater treatment and purification, medical and biomedical applications, agricultural applications, and many other industrial applications (El Sayed, MM. Production of Polymer Hydrogel Composites and Their Applications. (2023) J Polym Environ 31, 2855-2879). Due to their high sensitivity to external stimuli (pH, temperature, light, tension, electric field, magnetic field, biological receptors, etc.) and biocompatibility, hydrogels have garnered considerable interest in sensing and biosensor applications (Culver HR, Clegg JR, Peppas NA. (2017). Acc. Chem. Res. 2017, 50, 2, 170-178).

[0007] Currently, the literature reports several studies on the application of hydrogels as biomaterials in the field of biomedicine, using a topological network of hydrogen bonds as a design principle to construct a hydrogel material based on cellulose (a natural polymer), ionic compounds, and H2O (Zhao et al., A Dynamic Gel with Reversible and Tunable Topological Networks and Performances (2020). Matter 2, 390-403). Pharmacology studies have also been reported where dynamic hydrogels have been designed to respond to specific analytes, which have been classified as a type of smart material. These materials are unique not only in the type of analyte to which they respond but also in how molecular recognition is performed. Smart hydrogels can respond to environmental signals such as pH, temperature, and ionic strength.For analyte-responsive hydrogels, molecular recognition is key, incorporating biomolecules with inherent molecular recognition properties (e.g., nucleic acids, peptides, enzymes, etc.) into the polymer network. In addition to typical swelling / syneresis responses, these materials exhibit unique response behaviors, such as hydrogel assembly or disassembly, following interaction with the target analyte (Culver HR, Clegg JR, Peppas NA. (2017). Acc. Chem. Res. 2017, 50, 2, 170-178). However, little has been reported on their application as a construction material.

[0008] Conventional building insulation is generally constructed to form a barrier that hermetically isolates and separates exterior and interior conditions. Smith SI. Superporous Intelligent Hydrogels for Environmentally Adaptive Building Skins. MRS Advances. 2017; 2(46):2481-2488, describes the use of responsive hydrophilic polymers with climate control functions coupled to architectural material systems, generating a transition between exterior and interior space through a hydrogel-based envelope (insulation) layer, which is essentially a closed system with heat, light, air, and moisture transfer functions. Furthermore, hydrogels based on natural polymers have been reported to offer unique benefits, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, adaptability, molecular bonding capacity, bioactive characteristics, and low cost (El Sayed, MM Production of Polymer Hydrogel Composites and Their Applications).(2023) J Polym Environ 31, 2855-2879).

[0009] Furthermore, it is known that to reduce the thermal transmittance of hydrogels, it is sometimes necessary to modify their structure or composition to decrease their heat transfer capacity. Specifically, some techniques to achieve this are as follows:

[0010] 1) Incorporating low thermal conductivity nanoparticles into the hydrogel. This involves dispersing nanoparticles such as silica aerogels or clay particles within the hydrogel matrix (Xin F, Lyu Q. A Review on Thermal Properties of Hydrogels for Electronic Devices Applications. Gels. 2022 9:7). These materials can act as thermal barriers, reducing heat transfer through the hydrogel (YX Chen, KM Klima, HJH Brouwers, Qingliang Yu. Effect of silica aerogel on thermal insulation and acoustic absorption of geopolymer foam composites: the role of aerogel particle size (2022) Composites Part B Engineering Volume 242, 110048).

[0011] 2) Adding dispersed phases of low thermal conductivity to the hydrogel. This involves introducing materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) or hollow microspheres into the hydrogel structure. These inclusions can create a composite structure that reduces overall thermal conductivity.

[0012] (Huaxing Gao a, Yuxuan Chen, Qian Chen, Qingliang Yu Thermal and mechanical performance of 3D printing functionally graded concrete: The role of SAC on the rheology and past evolution of 3DPC. Construction and Building Materials volume 409, 133830).

[0013] 3) Incorporating complementary polymers with low thermal conductivity into the hydrogel. This involves mixing the gelling agent with other polymers that have low thermal conductivity. It has been reported that combining alginate hydrogel with polymers such as polyethylene glycol can reduce the thermal conductivity of the resulting hydrogel (Huang L. Thermal Shielding Performance of Self-healing Hydrogel in Tumor Thermal Ablation. (2022). Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 213, 112382).

[0014] 4) Optimization of the hydrogel structure. Adjusting the hydrogel microstructure to maximize heat dispersion and reflection, such as increasing porosity (Cheng, H. Preparation of Xanthan Gum-based Composite Hydrogels with Aligned Porous Structure. (2020). BioRes 15, 5627-5640). A more porous structure can trap more air, which is a poor thermal conductor, thus reducing thermal transmittance.

[0015] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The object of the invention is to provide a construction material and the use of this material, as defined in the claims.

[0017] A first aspect of the invention relates to a construction material comprising a hydrogel comprising a polymer, inorganic salts, and water.

[0018] A second aspect of the invention relates to the use of the building material as an insulator and / or thermal energy storage device. The building material can both insulate and store thermal energy.

[0019] This building material offers superior energy performance compared to traditional materials. Its water content gives it a heat capacity up to four times greater than that of concrete, meaning it can absorb and store significantly more heat without rapidly changing temperature. This property provides thermal inertia, slowing heat transfer and helping to stabilize the temperature of spaces covered with this material. Furthermore, its thermal conductivity is similar to that of cellular concrete, giving it a degree of insulation. These characteristics make it an efficient material for improving thermal comfort without the need for active climate control systems, as demonstrated in the examples. The building material also offers acoustic insulation and is fire-resistant, as demonstrated in the examples.

[0020] DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a construction material comprising a hydrogel comprising a polymer, inorganic salts and water.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the polymer comprising the hydrogel is a polysaccharide, preferably agar, sodium alginate, collagen, cellulose, starch, carrageenan and / or mixtures thereof, most preferably sodium alginate.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the inorganic salt is selected from salts of the H cations + , Ca 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cu 2+ , Mr 2+ , Zn 2+ , Faith 2+ , Mn 2+ , To the 3+ , Faith 3+ and / or mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the inorganic salt is a salt of the Ca cation. 2+ , and more preferably the salt of the Ca cation 2+ It is selected from calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and / or a mixture of the same.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises enzymes. The enzymes are selected from elastase, horseradish peroxidase (HPR), transglutaminase, tyrosinase and / or a mixture thereof, preferably from tyrosinase, transglutaminase and / or a mixture thereof.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises a gelling activity modulator, preferably a humectant, more preferably a gluconolactone. In a preferred embodiment, the gelling activity modulator is present in an amount of between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel. Other gelling activity modulators that the hydrogel may comprise are the following:

[0026] Polyacrylamide (PAM): Forms stable and resistant gel networks.

[0027] Pluronics (F127, etc.): Block copolymers with thermoresponsive properties; they gel with increasing temperature.

[0028] - Polyacrylic acid (Carbopol): Highly viscosifying agent and gel former in aqueous media.

[0029] Methylcellulose / Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC): Cellulose derivatives with gelling capacity and controlled release in oral or topical systems.

[0030] Polyethylene glycol (PEG): Water-soluble polymer that modulates viscosity and allows modification of the hydrogel network.

[0031] Guar gum: A natural thickener of vegetable origin, used for its high water retention capacity.

[0032] Sodium gluconate: Temporarily sequesters calcium ions, slowing down gelation in systems such as sodium alginate.

[0033] - Citric acid / Sodium citrate: Acts as a chelating agent for calcium ions; regulates the gelation rate in ionotropic systems such as alginate.

[0034] EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid): Powerful chelating agent for divalent cations such as Ca2+ and Mg 2+ , inhibits or slows down ionic gelation.

[0035] Phosphates (e.g., disodium phosphate): Compete with calcium ions and can stabilize colloidal systems, slowing down the formation of gel networks.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the polymer is sodium alginate and is present in an amount of between 0.68% and 3% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0037] In another embodiment, the inorganic salts are calcium chloride and calcium carbonate and are present in an amount of between 0.2% and 1% by weight relative to the total volume of water in the hydrogel.

[0038] In another embodiment, the enzymes are selected from tyrosinase and transglutaminase and are present in an amount of between 0.001% and 0.03% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises: the polymer selected from sodium alginate, collagen, cellulose, starch, carrageenan and / or mixtures thereof; and preferably sodium alginate; the inorganic salts selected from salts of the H cations + , Ca 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cu 2+ , Mr 2+ , Zn 2+ , Faith 2+ , Mn 2+ , To the 3+ , Faith 3+ and / or mixtures thereof; preferably where the inorganic salts are salts of the Ca cation 2+ , and more preferably where the salts of the Ca cation 2+ are calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and / or mixtures thereof; and optionally, the enzymes selected from elastase, horseradish peroxidase (HPR), transglutaminase, tyrosinase and / or mixtures thereof, and where the enzymes are preferably selected from tyrosinase, transglutaminase and / or a mixture thereof.

[0040] In another embodiment, the hydrogel comprises: the sodium alginate polymer in an amount of between 0.68% and 3% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; the inorganic salts of calcium chloride and calcium carbonate in an amount of between 0.2% and 1% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; and optionally, the enzymes selected from tyrosinase and transglutaminase in an amount of between 0.001% and 0.03% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0041] In another embodiment, the hydrogel comprises: the sodium alginate polymer in an amount of between 0.68% and 3% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; the inorganic salts of calcium chloride and calcium carbonate in an amount of between 0.2% and 1% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; optionally, the enzymes selected from tyrosinase and transglutaminase in an amount of between 0.001% and 0.03% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; and the gelling activity modulator gluconolactone in an amount of between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0042] Therefore, the hydrogel would be biodegradable.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises nanoparticles, preferably hollow silica microsphere nanoparticles or clay particles. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises dispersed phase materials with low thermal conductivity. In one embodiment, these dispersed phase materials are selected from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or hollow microspheres.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises polymers of low thermal conductivity, preferably a polyethylene glycol.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises agents that modify the hydrogel's microstructure to a porous structure. Preferably, the agent that modifies the hydrogel's microstructure to a porous structure is xanthan gum. In a preferred embodiment, this agent is present in an amount of between 0.1% and 1.0% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0046] In another embodiment, the hydrogel comprises: sodium alginate polymer in an amount of between 0.68% and 3% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; inorganic calcium chloride salts in an amount of between 0.2% and 1% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel; and xanthan gum in an amount of between 0.1% and 1.0% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel comprises a thermal conductivity of 0.1 - 0.6 W / m°C and / or a specific heat capacity of 2.0 - 5.0 J / g°C, and / or an internal thermal transmittance of 5 - 15 W / m2°C, and / or a heat capacity of 0.84 - 1.0 kJ / kg K.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel is in particle form, preferably spherical or spheroidal. That is, the building material comprises a plurality of hydrogel particles. The particulate hydrogel can be obtained by spherification methods known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel particle is coated, preferably with a coating additive compatible with the hydrogel, such as an epoxy resin, plastic resin, acrylic, polyurethane, ceramic nanoparticles, and / or polylactic acid (PLA). This coating improves the thermal and physical stability and handling of the hydrogel. Thanks to the spheroidal particle configuration, a significant improvement in the thermal and mechanical stability of the system is achieved, as well as greater thermal inertia, which allows for a more gradual response to thermal variations.The spherical or spheroidal shape increases the surface area to volume ratio, which promotes greater heat absorption and distribution, optimizing the material's overall thermal performance. Additionally, this morphology contributes to greater efficiency in the absorption and dispersion of acoustic waves, improving sound insulation. The external polymer coating also acts as a protective barrier, increasing fire resistance by hindering flame spread and reducing heat transfer.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the particle size is between 4 and 8 mm, with particle measurement being by sieving.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the construction material comprises an additional structure, with the hydrogel embedded, mixed, contained, and / or encapsulated within said structure and / or the hydrogel coating said structure. This structure may be made of plastic, wood, ceramic, textile, resin, mortar, steel, cross-laminated timber (CLT), among other materials.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel is embedded or mixed with other construction materials such as cement and / or resins, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the construction material comprises between 25% and 80% hydrogel by weight relative to the weight of these other construction materials, preferably between 40% and 70%.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogel alone or encapsulated, coated, embedded or mixed with other materials, covers other structures for construction, such as a sheet comprising plastic, wood, ceramic, textile, steel or cross-laminated timber (CLT).

[0053] Thus, the construction material comprising the hydrogel can be configured to be assembled, paneled, adhered, incorporated, etc. into the construction elements.

[0054] The hydrogel of the invention can be manufactured by methods known to the person skilled in the art.

[0055] Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the aforementioned construction material as an insulator and / or thermal energy storage material. In a preferred embodiment, this relates to its use as a thermal insulator, acoustic insulator, or fireproof material.

[0056] In another embodiment, the invention relates to the use of the construction material as textile insulation or as construction insulation.

[0057] Thus, the construction material can be used in the following applications:

[0058] Non-structural interior partitioning elements, including partitions, suspended ceilings, wall linings, parapets and compartmentalization solutions.

[0059] Horizontal elements such as floors, mezzanines, slabs, technical platforms, raised technical pavements or false floors.

[0060] Vertical enclosure elements, such as ventilated facades, sandwich panels, technical envelopes or multilayer systems.

[0061] Thermal-acoustic containment or encapsulation systems, either as an active core, intermediate chamber or functional layer within a multilayer system.

[0062] Components of passive fire protection in load-bearing or non-load-bearing building elements, including beams, pillars, trusses, joints, ducts, downpipes, installation passages, technical joints or critical enclosures.

[0063] Modular, prefabricated or transportable systems, including housing modules, lightweight construction panels, emergency solutions or ephemeral architecture components.

[0064] Technical elements of passive environmental regulation, such as thermal accumulators, acoustic buffers, passive climate control panels or thermal absorption systems without active energy.

[0065] Technical systems in means of transport, including interior or encapsulated elements in land, rail, naval or air vehicles, when thermal mass, acoustic insulation or fire resistance is required.

[0066] Functional coatings or technical enclosures in industrial spaces, technical rooms, sensitive equipment or areas with special thermal-acoustic safety requirements.

[0067] Packaging, transport, or storage systems for sensitive goods, especially where passive temperature control, ignition protection, or noise insulation are required. Biophilic, adaptive, or regenerative building components, including solutions that integrate passive thermal and acoustic performance into building envelopes designed to reduce energy consumption, increase comfort, and mitigate fire risks.

[0068] Isolation systems in urban infrastructures and technical networks, including tunnels, technical chambers, installation passages or confined spaces.

[0069] Environmental control cameras or panels in public or institutional spaces, such as hospitals, schools, theaters, libraries, prisons, server rooms, or military facilities.

[0070] Technical systems for the production, transformation or storage of energy, including battery containers, power stations, equipment rooms, reactor enclosures or industrial environments with thermal-acoustic or fire-resistant risks.

[0071] In the present invention, the term “hydrogel” refers to a three-dimensional polymer network with a high affinity for water, such that in the presence of water it swells, considerably increasing its volume, but maintaining its shape until reaching physicochemical equilibrium. The hydrogel of the invention comprises a natural polymer. The hydrogel as described in the invention is also considered another aspect of the invention.

[0072] The term “polymer” refers to polymers obtained as a result of a polymerization process. Examples include, but are not limited to, agar, sodium alginate, collagen, cellulose, starch, and carrageenan.

[0073] The term “p / v” refers to weight / volume.

[0074] Throughout the description and claims, the word "comprises" and its variations are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components, or steps. For a person skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent partly from the description and partly from the practice of the invention. The following examples are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0075] The invention will then be illustrated by an example composition made by the inventors, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the product of the invention.

[0076] Example 1: Procedure for obtaining a hydrogel based on sodium alginate and inorganic salts (CaCh and CaCCh) comprising the following steps: i) Add the sodium alginate powder (0.68%-3% w / v) to water under stirring for 20-45 minutes at a temperature between 85°C and 100°C, until total dissolution, obtaining a viscous and homogeneous solution.

[0077] i) Next, add between 0.2% and 1% w / v of calcium chloride and calcium carbonate relative to the total water volume of the composition to induce heterogeneous gelation. iii) Subsequently, gluconolactone (GDL) was sequentially added at a concentration of between 0.1% and 0.5% w / v relative to the total water volume of the composition, causing hydrolysis in aqueous solution for 30–60 min and decreasing the pH of said solution from 7 to 4. iv) Alternatively, gel formation was initiated by adding an enzyme (tyrosinase or transglutaminase) at a concentration of between 0.001% and 0.03% w / v relative to the total water volume of the composition, to promote crosslinking of the polymer with the inorganic calcium salt (CaCh, CaCO3) to solutions containing alginate or other polymers (cellulose, starch, carrageenan). The reactions were carried out at 35°C and a pH of 5.8 to 6 for optimal enzyme activity.v) After uniform stirring of the reagents for 20 min, the mixture is poured into a mold or beaker and allowed to gel for 20-60 min. Example 2: Procedure for obtaining a hydrogel based on sodium alginate and inorganic salt CaCh and xanthan gum, comprising the following steps:.

[0078] Hydrogel composition: alginate 2% w / v, xanthan gum 0.5% w / v, calcium chloride 1.1% w / v water.

[0079] First, all of the alginate was added to water with stirring at a specific temperature to ensure proper dissolution. Then, xanthan gum was added until the mixture was uniform.

[0080] Simultaneously, 1.1% CaCl₂ was dissolved in 100 ml of water. After the mixing time for the homogeneous gelling agent and acidulant solution was complete, it was slowly added to the calcium salt solution. This process caused the alginate to begin forming gel spheres, which were added drop by drop to achieve the desired circular shape.

[0081] Once formed, the spheres must be removed from the calcium solution and subjected to a curing process at different temperatures (30, 40, 45, and 50 °C). This is because an apparent loss of liquid was observed, which actually corresponded to the excess liquid present in the surface film of the spheres.

[0082] Different batches of spherified hydrogel were manufactured. Some batches were coated with epoxy resin, plastic resin, acrylic, polyurethane, and PLA, respectively.

[0083] Example 3: Roofing panel comprising hydrogel:

[0084] A roof panel made of recycled plastic has been manufactured that houses the hydrogel manufactured according to example 2 inside (NIDO Panel).

[0085] Hydrogel composition: alginate 2% w / v, xanthan gum 0.5% w / v, calcium chloride 1.1% w / v, water. Physical characteristics of the NIDO panel: - Thermal properties of the hydrogel:

[0086] Experimental yield (field data):

[0087] Measurement period: One month. Test modules:

[0088] • Nest Module: Nest construction panel

[0089] • Reference module: Standard construction panel (without hydrogel)

[0090] The results obtained demonstrate the thermal stability and comfort of modular constructions, taking advantage of the high thermal inertia of the hydrogel and its passive temperature regulation capacity. - Acoustic insulation

[0091] A panel constructed from smaller modules containing a hydrogel element was evaluated. This panel was installed on top of a Tecno Fast® module, covering the ceiling of the enclosure and an approximate area of ​​13.23 m².

[0092] The measurement procedure is based on the ISO 16283-1:2014 standard, which is loaded into the measurement system used.

[0093] The equipment used corresponds to the following:

[0094] Standardized Dodecahedron type sound source

[0095] Soundbook Specialized Software with calibration certificate in accordance with current regulations 2025 and PTB certificate. - Samba and Samurai 3.4 Software 1 microphone measuring 1 1 / 4 inch 200 volt polarization.

[0096] Laser distance meter or measuring tape

[0097] - Stand for installing a transmitter and computer with microphone. Connection cables for a 1000-watt amplifier. - 30-meter special cable, remote control

[0098] The results obtained during that stage indicate that, in terms of sound insulation, the measurement shows an increase in the reduction of transmission of around 2 dB.

[0099] The panel incorporating the hydrogel exhibits significant absorption behavior, reducing the interior reverberation time of Module 1 compared to its counterpart. This reduction is noticeable, equivalent to an average reduction of 0.17 seconds, or approximately 20%, of the average reverberation time in the untreated module.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Construction material comprising a hydrogel comprising a polymer, inorganic salts and water.

2. Construction material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is a saccharide, preferably agar, sodium alginate, collagen, cellulose, starch, carrageenan and / or mixtures thereof.

3. Construction material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inorganic salt is selected from H cation salts + , Ca 2+ , Ba 2+ , Cu 2+ , Mr 2+ , Zn 2+ , Faith 2+ , Mn 2+ , To the 3+ , Faith 3+ and / or mixtures thereof.

4. Construction material according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic salts are salts of the Ca cation 2+ .

5. Construction material according to claim 4, wherein the salts of the Ca cation 2+ They are calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and / or a mixture of the same.

6. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrogel comprises enzymes, preferably enzymes selected from elastase, horseradish peroxidase (HPR), transglutaminase, tyrosinase and / or a mixture thereof.

7. Construction material according to claim 6, wherein the enzymes are selected from tyrosinase, transglutaminase and / or a mixture thereof.

8. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrogel comprises a modulator of a gelling activity.

9. Construction material according to claim 8, wherein the modulator of gelling activity is a gluconolactone.

10. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer is sodium alginate and is present in an amount of between 0.68% and 3% by weight relative to the total volume of water in the hydrogel.

11. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inorganic salts are calcium chloride and / or calcium carbonate and are present in an amount of between 0.2% and 1% by weight relative to the total volume of water in the hydrogel.

12. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the enzymes are selected from tyrosinase and transglutaminase, and are present in an amount of between 0.001% and 0.03% by weight relative to the total volume of water in the hydrogel.

13. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gelling activity modulator is gluconolactone and is present in an amount of between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight relative to the total water volume of the hydrogel.

14. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, comprising in the hydrogel silica microbubble nanoparticles and / or clay particles.

15. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, comprising dispersed phase materials of low thermal conductivity.

16. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, comprising polymers of low thermal conductivity.

17. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, comprising agents that modify a hydrogel microstructure to a porous structure, preferably xanthan gum.

18. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, comprising expanded polystyrene.

19. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrogel comprises a thermal conductivity of 0.1 - 0.6 W / m°C and / or a specific heat capacity of 2.0 - 5.0 J / g°C, and / or an internal thermal transmittance of 5 - 15 W / m2°C, and / or a heat capacity of 0.84-1.0 kJ / kg K.

20. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrogel is in particle form, and preferably in coated particle form.

21. Construction material according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction material comprises a structure, the hydrogel being embedded, contained or encapsulated in said structure, or the hydrogel being coating said structure.

22. Use of the construction material according to any of the preceding claims, as an insulator and / or thermal energy storage device.

23. Use of the construction material according to claim 22, as thermal insulation, acoustic insulation and / or fireproof material.

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