Spaceloft Aerogel Insulalation

Ultra-Thin Super Insulation with Aerogel

Aerogel insulation seems like a material out of science-fiction. It is the lightest solid known, although by volume it is 99% air. It is breathable, but it doesn’t absorb water. It is incredibly strong for its weight. But most importantly, it is a fantastic insulator.

Spaceloft is an aerogel blanket that is can be 1/4″ thick and provides more effective insulation than fiberglass or rigid board per inch, nearly double. It is manufactured by Aspen Aerogel and comes in a 57-inch wide roll of aerogel material available in 0.20 in. and 0.40 in. thickness. Spaceloft is a useful product for insulating existing walls in retrofit situations where it is important to minimize the amount of floor area lost to building up wall insulation. An old brick building can be a beautiful thing, but brick makes a poor insulator. Instead of building a new insulated wall against the existing wall that would be 4″ thick (or more), a Spaceloft blanket covered by drywall can achieve similar energy-efficiency in a wall covering that is less than an inch thick.

According to Martin LaMonica of CNET, Spaceloft blankets have been used by the Rhode Island Housing Authority to retrofit a 50-unit housing complex that was built with no insulation in the 1940s.

The advantage of this product is reduced profile, it is easy to cut and install, and is more effective than most products on the market.

Content
Air, silica aerogel with reinforcing fibers

Sustainability
R- Value of 10.3 per inch, highly effective material

Availability
ASPEN AEROGELS, INC.
30 Forbes Road, Building B
Northborough, MA 01532
USA
Tel: 1.508.691.1111
Fax: 1.508.691.1200

Filed under: Materials, Research, Skins, aerogel, insulation, nanogel