Your statement that "aerogel has the world's best insulating value" is not exactly correct.
Conventional Multi-Layer Insulation, used in aerospace insulation for 50 years, has a thermal conductivity 30X lower than silica aerogels. Of course, MLI is not used as a ordinary insulator, it's only used in high cost or exotic applications such as insulating the cryogenic rocket propellant storage tanks for the Space Shuttle and satellites, or insulating cryogenic dewars holding liquid nitrogen or liquid helium used for research and medical purposes.
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Multi-layer insulation better than aerogels
Submitted on March 7th, 2007 by InterestedReaderYour statement that "aerogel has the world's best insulating value" is not exactly correct.
Conventional Multi-Layer Insulation, used in aerospace insulation for 50 years, has a thermal conductivity 30X lower than silica aerogels. Of course, MLI is not used as a ordinary insulator, it's only used in high cost or exotic applications such as insulating the cryogenic rocket propellant storage tanks for the Space Shuttle and satellites, or insulating cryogenic dewars holding liquid nitrogen or liquid helium used for research and medical purposes.