How would you describe aerogel?
An aerogel is an open-celled, mesoporous, solid foam that is composed of a network of interconnected nanostructures and that exhibits a porosity (non-solid volume) of no less than 50%. The term “mesoporous” refers to a material that contains pores ranging from 2 to 50 nm in diameter.
What is aerogel simple?
: a highly porous solid formed by replacement of liquid in a gel with a gas so that there is little shrinkage.
What is frozen smoke?
Aerogel is the lightest solid material known. Some call it “frozen smoke”…others see it as “pet cloud.” Despite its density—three times that of air—the material has tremendous insulating capability. NASA scientists have found aerogel critical for several space missions.
How much is aerogel worth?
At about $23,000 per pound, aerogel is currently more expensive than gold [source: NASA JPL, FAQs]! Such a valuable product would seem to belong next to the diamonds and pearls in an heiress’s jewelry box. But aerogel is more likely to be found insulating a rocket or thickening paint than adorning wealthy socialites.
What is aerogel sometimes called?
Sometimes called “frozen smoke,” aerogel is the lightest and best insulating solid in the world. Nanogel, Cabot ‘s branded aerogel, is a hydrophobic aerogel produced as particles.
What is aerogel and how is it made?
Aerogels are produced by extracting the liquid component of a gel through supercritical drying. This allows the liquid to be slowly dried off without causing the solid matrix in the gel to collapse from capillary action, as would happen with conventional evaporation. The first aerogels were produced from silica gels.
What does aerogel mean?
Medical Definition of aerogel. : a highly porous solid formed by replacement of liquid in a gel with a gas so that there is little shrinkage.
What would you use aerogel for?
In 2004 about US$25 million of aerogel insulation product were sold,which had risen to about US$500 million by 2013.