by Shane Henson — June 22, 2012—As part of the Obama Administration’s strategy to solve America’s clean energy challenges, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Manufacturing Office is investing in an innovative insulation material developed by Aspen Aerogels that is expected to help industrial facilities save both energy and dollars.
Aspen Aerogels is an energy efficiency company that designs, develops and manufactures innovative, high-performance aerogel insulation. The company’s new insulation materials are called Pyrogel and Cryogel. Both use aerogel insulation technology and require less energy because of their structure, which is comprised of lightweight silica solids that take up only 3% of their total volume. The remaining 97% of the insulation is composed of air in the form of extremely small pores. Because the air has little room to move, the product traps the heat effectively, says Aspen Aerogels.
Pyrogel and Cryogel are also effective insulations for industrial settings because of their durability, efficiency, low density and resiliency. According to Aspen Aerogels, each product:
- Works in temperatures of -460°F (-270°C) to 1200°F (650°C);
- Is four to five times more thermally efficient compared to current insulation products;
- Is thin and flexible, with a thickness that is 50% – 80% less than conventional insulations; and
- Is resistant to water and stainless steel stress crack corrosion.
- Is four to five times more thermally efficient compared to current insulation products;
