To provide ash nodules/pellets of chaff useful s a thermal insulating material.

The ash of the chaff is pulverized down to -325 mesh. The pulverized ash of the chaff is compounded with a surfactant in a range of 0.1 to 1.0 wt.% of the ash and a binder of a range of 2 to 20 wt.% of the ash. The ash is then nodulated/pelletized. The resulted nodules/pellets are dried and the dried nodules/pellets are heated up to a temp. in a range of 800 to 1400°C.