Aerogels for Superinsulation

Jensen KI, Kristiansen FH, Schultz JM (2005) Highly superinsulating and light transmitting aerogel glazing for superinsulating windows, Publi Final Report HILIT+ (Eu contract ENK-CT-2002-00648)... 

Following a short presentation of the global need for superinsulation together with a closer look at the specific situation in the building sector, we propose within this synopsis a brief analysis of (1) the world s insulation markets, (2) superinsulating aerogel materials and their alternatives, (3) commercial aerogel insulation products available today, and (4) our estimation of their most likely applications worldwide in the future. We conclude this chapter with some first considerations on health, toxicity, and environmental aspects. 

Rigacci A, Marechal JC, Repoux M, Moreno M, Achard P (2004) lYeparation of polyurethane-based aerogels and xerogels for thermal superinsulation. J Non-Cryst Solids 350 372-378... 

Despite those differences, it appears clear that those two aerogel families present a common huge potential for hybridization with their nanostructured silica homologues, which could lead to, among others, brand new reinforced superinsulating materials. 

Abstract The present chapter is focused on describing the intimate link which exists between aerogels and thermal superinsulation. For long, this applied field has been considered as the most pronusing potential market for these nanostructured materials. Most likely this old vision will become reality in the near future. 

Based on recent developments in the field, it can be stated that aerogels still offer the greatest potential for nonevacuated superinsulation systems and consequently must be considered as an amazing opportunity for sustainable development. This chapter of the handbook bridges the gap between those dealing with thermal insulation properties of aerogel materials in general (Chap. 21) and the various commercial products described in Part XV. 

All these properties have a strong influence on the thermal characteristics. For example, as previously described in this handbook by H.-P. Ebert (Chap. 23) and already underlined in the previous paragraphs of this chapter, the effective thermal conductivity is strongly dependent on the aerogel s apparent density [27]. Indeed superinsulating samples (e.g., X <0.020 W m K ) can only be found within a rather short range of densities (Figure 26.6), usually located between 0.10 and 0.20 g cm . ... 

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