Everything you need to know about Aerogel insulation .

What is aerogel?

Aerogel insulation is a synthetic porous ultralight material from a gel form used for insulation. Aerogel is made up from almost 99% air however, it is very strong and can hold 500 to 4000 times its weight in an applied force. It is portrayed as the lightest solid in existence. It has many properties such as being breathable, fireproof and absorbs both oil and water.

Types of aerogels.

There are a couple of types of aerogels to consider when looking into it. There are 3 main types of aerogels available such as silica, carbon and metal oxides.

Silica aerogel insulation material

Silica aerogel is looked as the most common type of aerogel insulation. It is a blue colour just like the sky and this blue colour occurs when the light encounters the silica molecules and it scatters or reflects.  

Carbon aerogel insulation material

Unlike the Smokey-blue silica carbon-based aerogel is black and can feel like charcoal to the touch. Carbon-based aerogel may not look the most appealing however, it certainly makes up for it with its high surface area and electrical conductivity capabilities.

Metal aerogel insulation material

Metal aerogels are made from metal oxides and are used as catalysts for chemical transformations. They are also used in the production of explosives and carbon nanotubes, and these aerogels can even be magnetic.

Advantages and Disadvantages of aerogel insulation

There are a couple possible advantages and disadvantages of aerogel insulation to consider when looking into aerogel. For example…

Advantages

• Very low conductivity
• Ultralight weight
• High thermal insulation
• Can be used in hot or cold temperatures.
• High fire resistance
• High sound insulation

Disadvantages

• Difficult manufacturing process
• Brittleness
• Potential respiratory effects from inhaling and/or handling
• Moisture sensitivity

As you can see there is lots to consider when looking into aerogel insulation. Just like most things in life there are disadvantages and advantages to weigh up. I hope I have been able to help and point you in the right direction about this topic. Is aerogel insulation the right choice for your home?