Aerogel Applications

AeroGel has changed the world of insulation. It began as a brittle

substance with very good insulation properties and ended up as

one of the most light-weight and flexible materials known to man.

And this is all because of a company known as Aspen Aerogels.

Aspen Aerogels took this brittle substance and used patented

technology to transform it into two different types of innovative

Aerogels. These new innovative Aerogels are known as Spaceloft

and Pyrogel.

Spaceloft is flexible form of AeroGel that has

been designed to be a nanoporous material that

can be manufactured into flexible insulation

blankets that can withstand temperatures from

cryogenic up to 200 C. And these blankets can be

used in products such as gloves, jackets, sleeping

bags, boots, and many other applications that

require superior thermal insulation. However, due

to its newness, it is extremely expensive to buy

and is therefore not used by many companies and

therefore is hard to find at a store near you. But

there are a few companies such as Burton, an

extreme weather gear manufacturing company

located in Burlington, Vermont. Burton

manufactures such products as the Burton Ronin

Katana Jacket.

Burton Ronin Katana Jacket 2003

689,95 Euro

This jacket utilizes Spaceloft AeroGel

to provide the wearer with superior

comfort and warmth. Even in the most

extreme winter weather conditions, it is

proven to be up to ten times warmer

than any other winter jacket, allowing

the user to withstand temperatures up

to minus fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

Burton also utilizes Spaceloft AeroGel

in there Pinnacle Plus Mitt, a winter

weather glove that delivers heat to

specifically mapped areas of your hand

to ensure your warmth, without adding

unnecessary bulk.

Pyrogel is also flexible, however

unlike Spaceloft, Pyrogel can

withstand temperatures up 650 C.

This makes Pyrogel a perfect

material for insulating such

products as industrial equipment,

power generation equipment, fire

protection equipment, and, of

course, Aerospace equipment.

Pyrogel can find itself in

situations such as a space shuttle

launch, where there is a need for a

firewall to protect vital equipment

from being damaged or insulating

the space shuttle itself from the

harsh conditions of outer space.

It can also be found in fire suits so that

firefighters can withstand extreme

temperatures for longer periods of

time, decreasing the risk of fatality to

the firefighter and the people that

might be in a fire. Pyrogel is also a

perfect thermal insulating shield for

astronauts’ space suits, where there is

the possibility of extreme temperatures

in both directions. And because of its

lightness it allows the astronauts’

themselves to have better mobility.

Pyrogel can even be found in steel

foundries where there is a need for

insulations to protect equipment

and people from the extremely hot

temperatures of molten steel. There

are many other applications for

Pyrogel, but once again, due to its

pricy-ness, it may not be seen in

general applications such as

automobiles and homes for years.

Thermal Wrap™ for low-dust superinsulation

Thermal Wrap™ aerogel blankets

from Cabot provide the super

insulating properties of silica aerogel in

a flexible form that is virtually dust-

free! Excellent for engineering projects,

ambient and sub-ambient insulating

applications, and more. Easy to cut and

handle. Useful as a translucent fabric

for daylighting and acoustic damping

in buildings. Thermal conductivity is

~23 mW m-1 K-1 at room temperature.

Lumira® Aerogel for experimentation

Lumira® Aerogel particles from Cabot

are hydrophobic (water-repelling)

millimeter-sized particles of silica

aerogel produced through subcritical

drying. Used in a variety of industrial

applications including subsea pipe

insulation and day lighting. Use it as an

inexpensive way to experience some

classic “blue” aerogel or as fill to make

your own translucent super insulating

barrier.

Spaceloft® Blanket for insulation

Aspen Aerogels’ Spaceloft® is a flexible

aerogel composite blanket designed for

insulating buildings and apparel. With

a thermal conductivity of 14 mW m-

1 K-1, Spaceloft is approximately two

and half times better insulating than

Styrofoam®. Great for home insulation,

winter clothing, science projects, and

any application where thermal

insulation is needed and space is at a

premium. Maximum temperature is

390°F/200°C, density is 0.15 g cm-

3 (2.45 oz/69 g per square foot).

Pyrogel® XT Blanket for insulation

The world’s most advanced

flexible insulation, Aspen

Aerogels’ Pyrogel®XT is a flexible

aerogel composite blanket

designed for high-temperature

applications (up to

650°C/1200°F), with thermal

performance two to eight times

greater than other high-

temperature insulating materials.

Great for blowtorch experiments!

Aspen Aerogels’ Cryogel® 201 is a

flexible aerogel composite blanket

designed for insulating cold

temperature environments ranging from

cryogenic to ambient. With a thermal

conductivity of 14 mW m-1 K-1 at

room temperature, Cryogel insulates

even better at lower temperatures with a

thermal conductivity of only 10 mW

m-1 K-1 at -330°F/-200°C! Lighter

than Spaceloft but dustier. Maximum

temperature is 390°F/200°C, density

is only 0.13 g cm-3 (2.13 oz/60 g per

square foot).

Cryogel® 201 Blanket