Traditional Building Insulation Materials vs Aerogel Blankets

The core differences between traditional building insulation materials and aerogel blankets mainly lie in their insulation efficiency, physical properties and applicable scenarios. The specific comparison is as follows:

Performance: High heat insulation efficiency

Aerogel blanket: Significantly leading in insulation efficiency. Its thermal conductivity is extremely low, typically 0.02 W/(m·K), making it one of the materials with the lowest thermal conductivity among solids known to date. At the same thickness, its heat insulation effect is 2 to 3 times that of traditional materials. To achieve the same insulation effect, its thickness is only 1/3 to 1/2 of that of traditional materials, which can significantly save building space.

Traditional insulation materials: Medium insulation efficiency. The thermal conductivity is mostly between 0.030 and 0.045 W/(m·K) (for example, rock wool is approximately 0.035 W/(m·K), and extruded polystyrene board is about 0.030 W/(m·K)). To meet the higher insulation requirements, a thicker laying thickness is needed, and it is prone to occupying indoor/exterior wall space.

Physiological and environmental adaptability

Aerogel blanket: Extremely light density/weight, with a density typically of 200 kg/m³. The weight per unit area is much lower than that of traditional materials, which can reduce the load on buildings. The heat insulation performance of hydrophobic aerogel blankets remains basically unchanged when they get damp. It has good durability, strong chemical stability, and no aging or powdering problems. The service life can reach over 20 years and it does not release harmful substances at high temperatures

Traditional insulation materials: The density of rock wool is approximately 100 to 200kg /m³, and that of polystyrene board is about 30 to 50kg /m³. The weight per unit area is higher than that of the aerogel blanket. Rock wool and glass wool are prone to absorbing water. Once it gets damp, the heat insulation effect will significantly decline, and additional waterproof treatment is required. They may release harmful gases at high temperatures and are prone to aging (such as polystyrene boards) and powdering (such as glass wool). After long-term use, its performance deteriorates rapidly, and its service life is usually 5 to 15 years

Applicable scenarios

Aerogel blanket: It is more suitable for scenarios with a strong demand for "thin, light and efficient insulation", such as building facades/roofs (saving space), renovation of old buildings (no need for major demolition and renovation), and low-temperature/high-temperature environments (such as buildings near cold storage and industrial kilns).

Traditional insulation materials: They are suitable for scenarios where cost is sensitive, insulation requirements are moderate, and environmental conditions are mild, such as interior wall insulation of ordinary residences and conventional exterior wall insulation of new buildings (without space restrictions).

Although traditional insulation materials can enhance energy efficiency, they inevitably sacrifice space, thereby affecting the integrity of buildings and reducing the living standards or return on investment of property owners. Aerogel materials are superior to traditional insulation materials in terms of performance, energy conservation, space saving and environmental pollution. We offer the most efficient customized insulation solutions for construction clients, which are both energy-saving and space-saving.