High-Temperature, Hydrophobic, Flexible Aerogel Composite and Method of Making Same

NASA’s Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed a method for fabricating low-density, flexible aerogel composites for use as thermal insulation for myriad applications. It is ideal for a variety of environments that require insulation materials that can withstand temperatures of up to 1200 °C. This innovation significantly advances the state of the art for composite insulation systems, reducing adherence problems and thermal conductivity limitations of conventional aerogel insulations while improving performance with lower weight, lower density, and higher efficiency, all factors contributing to greater applicability of aerogel insulation.