SiO2 network + >90% air
ChemistryAerogel is specified as SiO2 network + >90% air. Density band ~0.003–0.15 g/cm³.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength12
Heat resistance84
Fire performance86
Insulation98
Workability28
Circularity50
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Aerogel non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: silica A1; polymer aerogels not. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Aerogel insulate?
Thermal mark 98/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: silica blankets ~0.015–0.025 W/m·K class.
What is the density band?
~0.003–0.15 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: Kistler 1931; NASA / Aspen 1990s– (United States).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 50/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
silica sinters; organic aerogels burn
heat 84 · fire 86
What holds Aerogel together is not the nickname. Formula SiO2 network + >90% air, density ~0.003–0.15 g/cm³.
Meters are atlas-relative. Grades are the SKUs buyers write.
Phases
Microstructure
OrderProcessing sets grain, crystallinity or fibre orientation — the reason two lots of Aerogel can test differently.
Interfaces
SurfacesCoatings, oxide films, sizings or paper faces often decide weather and fire behaviour more than the bulk brochure.
Defects
FlawsInclusions, voids, knots, pinholes or residual stress start the failures that mill certificates do not list.
Grades
VariantsAerogel is a family. Grade names below are the ones buyers actually write on RFQs.
Ageing
TimeMoisture, UV, creep, hydrogen or carbonation shift properties in service. Design to the aged state.
Relative meters
Strength12
Strength is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Heat envelope84
Heat envelope is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Fire behaviour86
Fire behaviour is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Insulation98
Insulation is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Workability28
Workability is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Circularity50
Circularity is an editorial 0–100 mark relative to the other 31 materials in this atlas — not a laboratory certificate.
Grades
Fibre-reinforced blanket
Industrial piping.Industrial piping.
Granules
Cavity / daylighting.Cavity / daylighting.
Monolith lab
Optics, Cherenkov.Optics, Cherenkov.
Polymer aerogel
Check combustibility.Check combustibility.
Composite board
Building retrofit.Building retrofit.
Bonds
Primary bonding
Aerogel holds together by ionic/covalent networks.
Secondary forces
Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals stacks or grain-boundary cohesion set toughness and moisture uptake.
Composites & fills
Fillers, fibres, plasticisers or aggregates are part of the real product, not impurities.
Environment film
Oxides, chars, sizings or paints are the layer the world actually meets.
Change the grade, the coating or the moisture and you have a different material with the same English name.
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