Professional Aerogel

1. Insulation advantage. The common thickness range of aerogel felt composited with glass fiber needle felt is 3-20mm, the density is 180~220kg/m³, and the thermal conductivity coefficient at 25℃ is as low as 0.018W/(m·K). Compared with traditional insulation materials, under the same thermal resistance requirements, its use thickness is the lowest, which can greatly increase the building volume ratio.



2. Hydrophobicity advantage. High-quality aerogel felt has super high hydrophobicity, with a hydrophobicity rate of up to 99.7%, while common hydrophobic rock wool will age and fail during use due to the hydrophobic agent added to it, causing the rock wool to be damp and absorb water, which ultimately affects the insulation effect.



3. Fire-resistant advantage. Although the flame retardant grade of traditional insulation materials can reach B1, they have the characteristics of self-extinguishing when away from fire and flammable when encountering fire, which can easily cause the fire to spread when a fire occurs. Aerogel felt has A1 fireproof performance, temperature resistance can reach above 600℃, and no open flames or melting will be produced during the combustion process, which can effectively prevent the spread of fire.



In addition, aerogel can also improve the sound insulation of buildings, help reduce noise pollution, and improve living comfort; and the service life of aerogel is more than 5 times that of traditional materials. It can provide good insulation effect for a long time and reduce the cost of later building repairs and maintenance. It is an excellent building insulation material.

1. Excellent performance
ArmaGel®XGC aerogel insulation blanket is currently manufactured in China, and the new advanced production base of Armacell in India is about to be put into production. ArmaGel®XGC aerogel insulation blanket is designed for harsh industrial environments and is suitable for cryogenic applications. It can withstand extreme low temperatures as low as -196°C and meets ASTM C1728 Type I and Type IV standards, providing reliable and durable insulation protection for the industrial and energy fields.



2. Safety performance upgrade
Bart Janssen, Vice President of Armacell's Engineered Foams and Energy Division, said: "The breakthrough innovation of ArmaGel® XGC is reflected in three dimensions: insulation performance, acoustic performance, and safety. Our patented technology in aerogel manufacturing achieves a perfect balance between insulation performance and personnel safety, which will be a high-quality choice for industry users."



3. New developments in insulation technology
The emergence of ArmaGel® XGC aerogel insulation felt represents the renewal of insulation technology, providing a safer and more efficient solution for deep cold and dual-temperature application scenarios, marking a new stage of development in the field of industrial insulation.

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Aerogels——The Multidimensional Revolution of Future Materials


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Perhaps you have heard of aerogel——the lightest solid in the world, but do you know about it?
Let's step into the sci-fi world of "solid smoke"!

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I. What is Aerogel?​​

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Aerogel is a nanoporous solid material composed of colloidal particles or polymer molecules. As the name suggests, it is a gel filled with gas. It was first prepared in 1931 by American chemist Samuel Kistler① using supercritical drying technology. Known as "solid smoke" or "frozen clouds", this material is celebrated for its extremely low density and ultrahigh porosity (up to 99.8%②).
Aerogels can be classified into inorganic aerogels (e.g., silica, alumina), organic aerogels, and carbon-based aerogels depending on their composition. Silica aerogels, the earliest commercialized type, are widely used for their exceptional thermal insulation properties.

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II. Key Characteristics of Aerogels



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The unique properties of aerogels stem from their nanoporous structure, which endows them with the following features:






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Ultralow Density



As low as 3mg/cm³, merely three times the density of air.















Extremely Low Thermal Conductivity



As low as 0.013 W/(m·K) ③ at room temperature, offering over 10 times better insulation than traditional materials.















High Specific Surface Area



Up to 1,000 m² per gram of material.















Optical Transparency & Electrical Insulation



Certain aerogels (e.g., silica) are translucent while maintaining excellent electrical insulation.















Extreme Environmental Resistance



Withstands temperatures from -200°C to 1,200°C④, and certain types resist strong acids and alkalis.




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These properties have earned aerogels multiple Guinness World Records titles, including "World's Lightest Solid" and "Best Insulating Material".





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III. Broad Applications of a Revolutionary Material​​


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With groundbreaking performance, aerogels have permeated high-tech and civilian sectors:






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Aerospace



Thermal insulation for spacecraft and rocket engine fuel tanks.









Industrial Equipment



High-efficiency insulation for oil pipelines and LNG storage tanks.







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Electronics



Lightweight thermal management for 5G base stations and lithium batteries.









Consumer Goods



Insulation layers in premium outdoor gear.






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Recently, aerogels have shown immense potential in emerging fields such as thermal management forelectric-vehicle batteries and hydrogen energy storage/transport.

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IV. Breakthrough Performance in Building Insulation​​


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Compared to traditional insulation materials, aerogels offer transformative advantages:
​​



1. Ultra-Thin Efficiency: Achieves equivalent insulation with 1/5 the thickness, saving space.
2. Lightweight Revolution: Reduces weight by over 80%, lowering transport and installation costs.
3. Fire Safety: Inorganic aerogels meet Class A1 fire ratings, eliminating fire risks.
4. Long-Term Stability: Inorganic composition resists aging, ensuring extended service life.
5. Eco-Friendly: Low production energy consumption and 30–50% energy savings during use.​​


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Armacell's ArmaGel XGC aerogel insulation blanket, leveraging aerogel's potential, is designed for high-temperature applications up to 650°C. It is fire-resistant, hydrophobic, breathable, and reduces CUI (Corrosion Under Insulation) risks, keeping pipelines dry and extending equipment lifespan.
Compared to competitors, ArmaGel blankets now offer doubled maximum thickness (20mm vs. 10mm), reducing installation time. Enhanced flexibility ensures tight adhesion to pipes, minimizing air gaps and corrosion risks. Armacell has developed multiple ArmaGel variants to meet insulation needs in petrochemical and industrial sectors.​​


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From a "scientific marvel" in labs to an industrial "material dark horse," aerogels are reshaping humanity’s understanding of materials with their cloud-like lightness, steel-like strength, and vacuum-like insulation. Driven by carbon neutrality goals, this century-old technology is accelerating into daily life, offering sustainable solutions for energy-efficient buildings, new energy development, and space exploration. As production costs decline and processes improve, aerogels may become the hallmark material of the green technology era.​​






References
1. Kistler, S. S. (1931). Nature, 127, 741.
2. Highest porosity record (99.98%) from NASA JPL
3. Typical thermal conductivity of silica aerogel at ambient pressure (NIST)
4. Materials Today, DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2019.08.003
5. Advanced Materials Review: DOI: 10.1002/adma.201904779​​

Aerogels: The Revolutionary Insulation Material​

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Aerogels were first formally introduced in 1931. They are three-dimensional, porous, lightweight solid materials composed of nanoparticles that aggregate to form a nanoporous structure, containing gaseous dispersing media within their nanoscale pores. Hailed as the solid material with the best insulation performance to date, aerogels are typically combined with other materials to form composites for practical applications. Known as the solid material with the lowest thermal conductivity and lowest density, they appear as light as mist with a bluish hue and are often called "blue smoke." Aerogels offer ultra-long service life, exceptional thermal insulation, and superior fire resistance, earning them the title of "miracle material that can change the world."







Conventional aerogels exhibit a specific surface area of ~700 m²/g and porosity of 95%–99.8%. Their uniformly distributed nanoporous structure almost entirely blocks heat conduction and convection, granting them far superior insulation performance compared to traditional materials. Their thermal conductivity can be as low as 0.012–0.016 W/(m·K), equivalent to only half that of air.



Due to their exceptional insulation properties, aerogels are widely used in aerospace, military, and defense sectors. Their applications have gradually expanded to petrochemicals, industrial manufacturing, construction, transportation, and consumer goods. Currently, the primary downstream applications include industrial pipeline insulation (e.g., oil and gas projects), industrial thermal insulation, and building construction insulation. As applications broaden, markets in new energy vehicles and outdoor consumer products are also emerging.

Aerogels now encompass a wide range of types. Based on appearance, they are categorized as monoliths, powders, or thin films. By preparation method, they include aerogels, xerogels, and cryogels. By matrix composition, they are classified as inorganic, organic, hybrid, or composite aerogels.



Research indicates that over 70% of building energy consumption results from heat transfer through building envelopes. Reducing heat transfer energy loss in these structures is critical for lowering overall building energy consumption.

Insulation materials can be divided into inorganic and organic categories by chemical composition. Inorganic materials (e.g., rock wool, glass wool, foamed cement, vacuum insulation panels, aerogels) are non-combustible. Organic materials (e.g., EPS, XPS, polyurethane) offer better insulation but are flammable, releasing toxic gases when burned and requiring flame retardants.



​​Aerogel Blankets: A Competitive Inorganic Insulation Solution​​
As a novel inorganic insulation material, aerogel blankets—though costly—offer excellent thermal performance, simple installation, and long service life. When considering the long-term energy-saving benefits and cost savings, they prove highly competitive.

Currently, oxide aerogels are the most industrially mature and widely applied. Aerogels come in diverse forms: blankets, boards, fabrics, papers, particles, powders, coatings, and custom-shaped parts. This product diversity enables flexible and broad downstream applications.

Thanks to their outstanding insulation properties, the aerogel industry is in a growth stage globally, with rapid expansion across multiple sectors. According to comprehensive forecasts, the global aerogel market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 10%.





​​The Future in Construction​​
Aerogels are poised to play an increasingly vital role in the future of the construction industry, offering broader application prospects and driving energy-efficient innovation.