Silica Aerogel BLANKET
Reinforced grade
BLANKET = fiber-reinforced hydrophobic aerogel blanket/felt
Standard industrial form: flexible, cuttable, hydrophobic fiber-reinforced felt — pick for pipe, vessel, LNG and building insulation up to 650 °C where the wrap must follow complex shapes.
Values for the BLANKET condition
Other Silica Aerogel tempers and conditions
Silica Aerogel is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Silica Aerogel.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MONODefault Supercritically dried monolithic silica aerogel | Classic transparent/translucent block aerogel — pick for optical, Cherenkov-radiator, research and transparent-insulation uses. | — | 0.02 | — | — | 0.02 W/m·K |
Hydrophobic granules / beads | Pick for cavity fill, translucent daylighting panels, coatings and plaster additives where a pourable powder/bead form is needed. | — | 0.03 | — | — | 0.02 W/m·K |
BLANKETThis page Fiber-reinforced hydrophobic aerogel blanket/felt | Standard industrial form: flexible, cuttable, hydrophobic fiber-reinforced felt — pick for pipe, vessel, LNG and building insulation up to 650 °C where the wrap must follow complex shapes. | — | 0.25 | 5 | — | 0.02 W/m·K |
High-density / ambient-pressure-dried strengthened aerogel | Pick when a rigid, machinable, load-bearing aerogel board is required and a slightly higher conductivity is acceptable. | — | 0.5 | 1 | 3 HV | 0.03 W/m·K |
Ultra-low-density monolith | Pick for hypervelocity particle capture, Cherenkov radiators and lowest-possible conductivity research; mechanically almost unhandleable. | — | — | 0.5 | — | 0.01 W/m·K |
What is Silica Aerogel BLANKET?
Silica Aerogel BLANKET is Silica Aerogel in the BLANKET grade — standard industrial form: flexible, cuttable, hydrophobic fiber-reinforced felt — pick for pipe, vessel, LNG and building insulation up to 650 °C where the wrap must follow complex shapes. Silica Aerogel BLANKET has a tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi), weaker than 99% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi). Silica Aerogel BLANKET has a density of 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of ceramic grades. MONO is the default condition FabDigit quotes; BLANKET is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), better than 98% of ceramic grades
- Easy to machine — 45/100, better than 86% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 100% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.02 W/m·K (0.0116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
Silica Aerogel BLANKET properties
Typical room-temperature values for Silica Aerogel BLANKET; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Silica Aerogel reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical4
Silica Aerogel BLANKET has a density of 0.18 g/cm³ (0.0065 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical7
Silica Aerogel BLANKET has a tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi), weaker than 99% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 0 GPa (2.9×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal5
Silica Aerogel BLANKET is rated for continuous service to 650°C (1,202 °F). It conducts heat at 0.02 W/m·K (0.0116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 99% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 3 µm/m·K (1.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
Silica Aerogel BLANKET has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 69% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Silica Aerogel BLANKET takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 6 kg of CO₂ — less than 55% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Silica Aerogel BLANKET's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 86% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Silica Aerogel BLANKET
Is Silica Aerogel easy to machine?
Monoliths are extremely friable — cut dry with a fresh razor/hot wire or low-force diamond wire, never with coolant; blankets and boards are cut with a knife or die, always with dust extraction and PPE.
Can Silica Aerogel be welded?
Not weldable or brazeable; assemble by encapsulation in foil/film jackets, mechanical clamping or silicone/aerogel-compatible adhesives.
Can Silica Aerogel be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape cast in a mould during sol-gel gelation, then solvent-exchanged and supercritical-CO₂ (or ambient-pressure silylated) dried; blankets are made by gelling around a fiber batt and drying continuously.
What surface finishes work on Silica Aerogel?
Surface silylation (HMDS/TMCS) gives permanent hydrophobicity; edges are sealed or the part encapsulated in PET/aluminium-foil laminates to stop dusting and moisture ingress; no polishing or coating in the conventional sense.
Silica Aerogel chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C (surface -CH3 / silylation)TMCS/HMDS-derived methyl groups on hydrophobic grades; absent in hydrophilic monoliths | 0 – 8 | 4 |
| glass fiber / ceramic fiber0 % in monoliths; 20–40 % in blanket/felt variants | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| opacifier (TiO2, SiC, carbon black)added in high-temperature grades to suppress radiative transfer | 0 – 10 | 0 |
| SiO2amorphous nanoparticle skeleton from waterglass or TEOS/TMOS sol-gel route | ≥ 90 (balance) | — |
Silica Aerogel BLANKET — frequently asked
What is Silica Aerogel BLANKET used for?
Silica Aerogel BLANKET is typically used for thermal insulation blankets, spacecraft/cryogenic insulation, particle detector Cherenkov radiators and aerospace insulation panels. In short: lowest-conductivity solid insulation; density near 0.1 g/cm³; extremely fragile monoliths.
What is the tensile strength of Silica Aerogel BLANKET?
Silica Aerogel BLANKET has a typical tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi) — weaker than 99% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Silica Aerogel BLANKET easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 86% of ceramic grades). Monoliths are extremely friable — cut dry with a fresh razor/hot wire or low-force diamond wire, never with coolant; blankets and boards are cut with a knife or die, always with dust extraction and PPE.
Can Silica Aerogel BLANKET be welded?
Not weldable or brazeable; assemble by encapsulation in foil/film jackets, mechanical clamping or silicone/aerogel-compatible adhesives.
What surface finishes work on Silica Aerogel BLANKET?
Surface silylation (HMDS/TMCS) gives permanent hydrophobicity; edges are sealed or the part encapsulated in PET/aluminium-foil laminates to stop dusting and moisture ingress; no polishing or coating in the conventional sense.
Can Silica Aerogel BLANKET be formed, bent or molded?
Net-shape cast in a mould during sol-gel gelation, then solvent-exchanged and supercritical-CO₂ (or ambient-pressure silylated) dried; blankets are made by gelling around a fiber batt and drying continuously.
What is the maximum service temperature of Silica Aerogel BLANKET?
Silica Aerogel BLANKET is rated for continuous use to about 650°C (1,202 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Aerogels Handbook (Aegerter, Leventis, Koebel) — Springer (2011)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook — Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Pyrogel / Cryogel aerogel blanket technical data — Aspen Aerogels (2023)
- Enova / Lumira aerogel particle data sheets — Cabot Corporation (2022)
- Monolithic and rigid aerogel property sheets — Aerogel Technologies (2023)
- ASTM C1728 Standard Specification for Flexible Aerogel Insulation — ASTM (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.