Transparent aerogel windows

Jensen, K.I. and Schultz, J.M. (2007) Transparent aerogel windows results from an EU FP5 project. Proceedings of the 8th International Vacuum Insulation Symposium, ZAEBayern/UniWue, Wurzburg, September 18-19,2007. 

Venkateswara Rao A, Haranath D, Pajonk GM, Wagh PB (1998) Optimisation of supercritical drying parameters for transparent silica aerogel window apphcations. Mater Sci Technol 14 1194—1199... 

Thermal Insulation. In addition to their low thermal conductivity, as discussed in the section above, siUca aerogels can be prepared to be highly transparent in the visible spectmm region. Thus, they are promising materials as superinsulating window-spacer. To take further advantage of its... 

Silica aerogels, a newly developing type of material, also have been produced as thermal insulations with superinsulation characteristics. The nanometer-size cells limit the gas phase conduction that can take place. The aerogels are transparent to visible light, so they have potential as window insulation. The use of superinsulations at present is limited by cost and the need to have a design that protects the evacuated packets or aerogels from mechanical damage. 

Aerojet has made organic aerogels with densities of 0.1-0.2 g/mL3 for use in insulators and capacitors.252 Transparent macroporous monoliths have also been made by polymerization of trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate using toluene, ethyl formate, and other liquids as poro-gens.253 Poly(alkyl methacrylates) have good resistance to outdoor weathering and can be used in windows. 

Aerogels are particularly well suited for insulation applications because of their exceptionally low density, thermal stability, and high transparency. In fact, they can have a thermal conductivity only one-third that of polyurethane or polystyrene foam, and with recent process improvements that reduce the cost of manufacmre by an order of magnitude their practical use in certain construction applications is now feasible [31]. The insulating properties can be enhanced through the addition of IR opacifiers [32]. The high transparency of aerogels makes them suitable as insulation in windows or translucent panels. 

Rao, A V, Pajonk, G, Haranath, D (2001) Synthesis of hydrophobic aerogels for transparent window insulation applications. Mater Sci Technol 17(3) 343-348. 

Aerogels are one of the strongest, lightest and yet transparent (although non-polymeric) building products with 99% of empty volume, typically produced from silicone or carbon with equivalent thermal insulating efficiency equal to 10-20 glass window panes [47]. 

Tewari, P.H., Hunt, A.J., and Lofftus, K.D. (1986) Advances of production of transparent silica aerogels for window glazings, in Aerogels (ed. J. Fricke), Springer, Berlin, pp. 31-37. 

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