Aerogel for Aviation

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Jan 13, 2016

Aerogel: Building a Lightweight Thermal Insulation Barrier for Aviation

In the aviation industry, where extreme weight reduction and safety performance are pursued, aerogel has become a core material for next-generation thermal management solutions due to its ultra-lightweight and exceptional thermal insulation capabilities.

When civil airliners fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters, the fuselage must withstand extreme temperature differences ranging from -50°C to 60°C. Traditional thermal insulation materials are heavy and have limited insulation efficiency, which increases the fuselage weight and affects temperature control. Aerogel insulation layers have a density only one-fifth that of traditional materials. Under the premise of achieving the same insulation effect, they can help reduce the weight of a single airliner by more than 300 kilograms, significantly reducing fuel consumption. At the same time, they can stably maintain the cabin temperature within a comfortable range and prevent window frosting that affects visibility.
In the protection of hot-end components of aero-engines, aerogel composites can withstand temperatures above 1200°C. They are directly coated on the outer walls of turbine blades to isolate the high temperature of the combustion chamber from eroding the blade substrate, extending the service life of the components by 30% and reducing the risk of in-flight engine failures. Their flexible structure can adapt to the deformation caused by the high-speed rotation of the blades, ensuring stable operation throughout the flight.
To meet the needs of cold-chain transportation in air cargo, aerogel insulation boxes can maintain a stable low-temperature environment inside for more than 72 hours without an external power supply, meeting the temperature control standards for intercontinental transportation of fresh produce and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the weight of the boxes is 40% lighter than traditional insulation boxes, saving freight weight costs for airlines.
In the field of fire protection for helicopter engine compartments, aerogel fire-resistant coatings can form a thermal insulation carbon layer in the event of a fire, blocking heat transfer to the fuselage fuel tank, and valuable escape time for the crew, greatly improving the aviation emergenc safety factor.

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