Aerogel blanket Insulation — λ(T), Max Temperature, Computed Heat Loss

Honest assessment

Strengths, limits, verdict

Strengths: lowest lambda of any industrial insulation — half the thickness of stone wool for the same loss; hydrophobic yet vapour-open (strong CUI story); robust to compression.

Limits: 3–8x material price of stone wool; dust during cutting; economics only close where space, weight or CUI dominate.

Verdict: Buy thickness-constrained performance: tight clearances, weight limits, CUI-critical lines — not bulk runs.

Thermal conductivity (typical published values)

Mean temperature	λ W/m·K
0 °C	0.020
100 °C	0.025
200 °C	0.032
300 °C	0.042
400 °C	0.055

λ at mean temperature — rises with T because pore radiation grows with T³.

Computed performance · ASTM C680 simplified

Aerogel blanket on real pipe sizes

At 100 °C (λ=0.023 at mean)

Pipe	Thickness	Bare W/m	Insulated W/m	Surface	Saving €/m·yr	t CO2/m·yr
DN50	30 mm	152	16	24 °C	€66	0.24
DN50	50 mm	152	11	22 °C	€68	0.25
DN50	100 mm	152	8	21 °C	€70	0.26
DN100	30 mm	287	26	25 °C	€128	0.47
DN100	50 mm	287	18	23 °C	€131	0.48
DN100	100 mm	287	11	21 °C	€135	0.49
DN200	30 mm	551	45	25 °C	€247	0.90
DN200	50 mm	551	30	23 °C	€254	0.93
DN200	100 mm	551	18	21 °C	€260	0.95

At 250 °C (λ=0.027 at mean)

Pipe	Thickness	Bare W/m	Insulated W/m	Surface	Saving €/m·yr	t CO2/m·yr
DN50	30 mm	436	54	34 °C	€186	0.68
DN50	50 mm	436	39	28 °C	€193	0.71
DN50	100 mm	436	27	23 °C	€199	0.73
DN100	30 mm	826	87	36 °C	€360	1.32
DN100	50 mm	826	61	29 °C	€373	1.37
DN100	100 mm	826	39	24 °C	€384	1.41
DN200	30 mm	1,583	152	37 °C	€698	2.56
DN200	50 mm	1,583	101	30 °C	€723	2.65
DN200	100 mm	1,583	60	25 °C	€743	2.72

At 400 °C (λ=0.033 at mean)

Pipe	Thickness	Bare W/m	Insulated W/m	Surface	Saving €/m·yr	t CO2/m·yr
DN50	30 mm	720	106	48 °C	€300	1.10
DN50	50 mm	720	77	35 °C	€313	1.15
DN50	100 mm	720	53	26 °C	€325	1.19
DN100	30 mm	1,365	171	51 °C	€582	2.13
DN100	50 mm	1,365	119	38 °C	€607	2.22
DN100	100 mm	1,365	76	28 °C	€628	2.30
DN200	30 mm	2,616	297	54 °C	€1,131	4.14
DN200	50 mm	2,616	199	40 °C	€1,179	4.32
DN200	100 mm	2,616	119	29 °C	€1,218	4.46

Assumptions: 20 °C ambient, still air (h=10 W/m²·K), €0.05/kWh fuel, 8000 h/yr, 82% boiler efficiency, 0.183 kg CO2e/kWh. Your numbers: free calculator.

Against the field

Same duty, all materials — DN100 at 250 °C

Material	λ W/m·K	Loss W/m	Surface	Saving €/m·yr	t CO2/m·yr
Stone wool (mineral wool)	0.052	112	37 °C	€348	1.3
Glass wool	0.050	106	36 °C	€351	1.3
Ceramic fibre (RCF / AES blanket)	0.060	127	39 °C	€341	1.2
Aerogel blanket	0.027	61	29 °C	€373	1.4
Calcium silicate	0.067	139	41 °C	€335	1.2
Expanded perlite	0.070	145	42 °C	€332	1.2
Cellular glass	0.058	122	38 °C	€343	1.3
Microporous (fumed-silica) panels	0.023	50	27 °C	€378	1.4
E-glass needle mat	0.050	106	36 °C	€351	1.3
Silica needle mat / fabric	0.055	117	37 °C	€346	1.3

DN100 pipe at 250 °C, 50 mm insulation, per metre of pipe; bare loss 826 W/m. λ at mean temperature; € and CO2 per metre·year at €0.05/kWh, 8000 h, 82% efficiency. Method: ASTM C680 simplified (h=10).

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FAQ

Questions on this topic

What is the thermal conductivity of aerogel blanket?

Typical published values: 0.020 W/m·K at 0 °C, 0.025 W/m·K at 100 °C, 0.032 W/m·K at 200 °C, 0.042 W/m·K at 300 °C, 0.055 W/m·K at 400 °C (mean temperature). λ rises with temperature — design with the mean-temperature value, not the ambient one.

What is the maximum temperature for aerogel blanket?

≈650 °C continuous service for typical grades (ASTM C1728). Product-specific limits vary — check the datasheet of the exact grade.

Where is aerogel blanket the right choice?

Buy thickness-constrained performance: tight clearances, weight limits, CUI-critical lines — not bulk runs.

Aerogel blanket — properties, λ(T) and computed performance