Aerogels & Nanofoams

Aerogels are a form of insulation based on nanotechnology. They can be anything from 2-8 times more effective than traditional insulation, thereby providing extensive heat and energy savings, and consequently benefitting the environment. The reason they are so effective is that they are made up of very little solid material; approximately 96% of their volume is air. Most aerogels are made from silicon or carbon.

Aerogels have a variety of uses and applications, and should not be thought of simply for the home. They can provide improvements wherever superior thermal, fire and acoustic barriers areneeded, and are usually smaller and lighter than conventional insulation methods. Aerogels can currently be found in use in oil pipelines, natural gas and military ships, building and construction, boots and jackets and much more.

NASA use aerogels to insulate their astronaut costumes in the cold atmosphere of space, while the top mountaineers also insulate their boots and clothes with aerogels

Watch a video demo of aerogels in use on this page – 2 minute .wmv file

Nanofoams work in a similar way, maximising the amount of trapped air relative to solid mass. These are made from composites of polymers and nanomaterials (such as ceramic nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes).