What is aerogel?
Aerogel is more than 80% air, so it has a very good insulation effect. 1-Inch-thick aerogel is equivalent to the insulation function of 20 to 30 pieces of glass. The low density makes it possible to achieve high thermal insulation capacity in a thin and light material. Also, it is called "solidified blue smoke".
Aerogel was named as the top 10 new materials of the 20th century, with a lower thermal conductivity than static air, making it the solid material with the lowest thermal conductivity.
Aerogel was named the lightest solid in the world by the Guinness Book of Records and was the core insulation material for NASA's spacesuits in the manned moon landing program.
Aerogel with Aerospace
Aerogels are among the lightest solid materials known to man. They are created by combining a polymer with a solvent to form a gel, and then removing the liquid from the gel and replacing it with air. Aerogels are extremely porous and very low in density. They are solid to the touch. This translucent material is considered one of the finest insulation materials available.
NASA, along with industry partners, has investigated the use of different types of aerogels for multiple uses. With funding from NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program (Hypersonics and Subsonic Fixed Wing Projects) and the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA's Glenn Research Center has developed two cutting-edge methodologies that revolutionize aerogel technology.
The first innovation is a method of creating aerogels that are reinforced by polymers. The method changes the surface of the gel as it reacts with a polymer. The result is that the interior surface of the aerogel gets a thin layer of polymer, which greatly strengthens the aerogel.
The second innovation is a method of creating aerogels made completely of polymers. These polymer-based aerogels are extremely strong and flexible. They can also be made into a bendable thin film.
Down jacket VS 3D printed aerogel jacket
Down jacket warmth is not uniform, the stitching does not lock heat, wear bloated, and easy to drill down, down easy to shift, not easy to take care of.
Our 3D printing aerogel jacket, has a strong insulation, breathable and heat-resistant, not stuffy sweat, "zero" wearing feeling, ultra-light weight. Using 3D printing technology, no displacement, no drilling lint, repeated washing is not easy to deformation.
Laboratory tests in extreme cold at -25°C found that aerogel material was more insulating than the same thickness of down and Thinsulate™.
And, the lab also tested in +40℃ heat resistance, and found that aerogel material is more breathable and heat resistant than the same thickness of down and Thinsulate™.
Our "Chill Out" Outlast Nasa Tech Upgraded Aerogel Jacket is a casual jacket that is surface made of Toray water-resistant and wind-resistant laminate. The lining is made of 3D aerogel which is known for its insulating properties. This makes the jacket ideal for cold weather conditions. The 3D Aerogel jacket also has a water-resistant finish that repels water and keeps the wearer dry.
The fabric is mainly composed of 3 layers: a comfortable and soft inner layer, a middle layer filled with aerogel for constant temperature, and a waterproof and cold-resistant outer layer to further enhance the thermal function.
Through the liquid nitrogen experiment, the test BXTribe anti-cold suit was directly sprayed with liquid nitrogen at -196°C, 12.3°C at room temperature, and 10.1°C after direct spraying, the surface temperature only dropped 2.2°C.