AG-DC Silica Aerogel Powder

Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivity Insulation Material for Advanced Thermal Management

Industry Background: The Evolution of Thermal Insulation Materials

Traditional thermal insulation materials such as mineral wool, fiberglass, perlite, polyurethane foam, and calcium silicate have long been used across construction, industrial insulation, and energy systems. However, as energy efficiency standards become stricter and equipment operates under more extreme temperature conditions, these conventional materials are increasingly facing limitations:

• High thermal conductivity compared to modern requirements

• Large thickness needed to achieve target insulation performance

• Moisture absorption and performance degradation over time

• Limited fire resistance in certain polymer-based materials

• Space constraints in retrofitting and compact system design

• Poor durability under high temperature or cyclic thermal environments

  
  

In industries such as building envelopes, LNG storage, battery thermal protection, and industrial pipelines, the demand has shifted toward high-performance, thin, lightweight, and durable insulation solutions. This is where silica aerogel materials represent a significant technological advancement.

What is Silica Aerogel Powder?

Silica aerogel powder is a nanoporous solid derived from silica gel through a supercritical drying process. With a porosity of up to 90–99% and a three-dimensional nano-network structure, it is widely recognized as one of the lowest thermal conductivity solid materials available today.

Its nano-scale pores effectively suppress:

• Solid heat conduction

• Gas convection

• Infrared radiation heat transfer

This unique structure gives silica aerogel powder exceptional thermal insulation performance that far surpasses conventional insulation materials.

Key Performance Advantages

1. Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity: 0.012-0.016（25°C） W/m·K

Compared with traditional insulation materials, silica aerogel powder can achieve the same insulation performance with significantly reduced thickness, making it ideal for space-limited applications and high-efficiency systems.

2. Outstanding High-Temperature Stability

Silica aerogel powder maintains stable performance under elevated temperatures without melting, shrinking, or releasing toxic gases.

Industry Advantage

3. Excellent Fire Resistance 

As an inorganic material, silica aerogel powder is inherently non-combustible and contributes to higher fire safety ratings in composite systems.

4. Hydrophobic and Moisture-Resistant

Hydrophobic surface treatment prevents water absorption while maintaining thermal performance.

5. Lightweight & High Porosity

Extremely low density reduces structural load while maintaining excellent insulation efficiency.

Due to its nanoporous structure and ultra-low thermal conductivity, silica aerogel powder is not only used as a standalone insulation material, but more importantly as a high-performance functional insulating filler in composite systems.

Although aerogel itself is inherently fragile in bulk form, its performance can be effectively enhanced when integrated into compatible matrices. By combining aerogel powder with structural or binding materials, the composite system gains improved mechanical strength and flexibility while retaining superior thermal insulation performance.

In practical applications, silica aerogel powder can be incorporated into a wide range of material systems, including:

• Glass fiber composites

• Ceramic fiber insulation materials

• Basalt fiber products

• Water-based coating systems

• Solid-state electrolyte and thermal barrier layers

• Aerogel fiber and advanced insulation composites

  
  

Through this composite approach, manufacturers can significantly enhance the thermal insulation performance of existing materials without fundamentally changing their base structure or processing methods. This makes aerogel powder an efficient and scalable solution for upgrading conventional insulation materials into high-performance thermal management systems.