Author Topic: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation  (Read 12759 times)

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DamonHD

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SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« on: April 09, 2010, 02:58:03 AM »
I'm aiming to do two sorts of aerogel-based insulation this year: dry-lining our living room to reduce the U-value of the exterior walls from ~2W/m^2K to under 0.3 so body heat should be able to keep that room warm in winter even if the heating fails, and wallpapering our younger sprog's room to reduce the U-value of its exterior wall from about to 2 to about 0.8 (its heated for far fewer hours each day than the living room).

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REdiculous

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2010, 03:43:28 PM »
I haven't looked in a while but the last time I did aerogel was just outrageous. So much so that I couldn't imagine trying to insulate a freezer with it, let alone walls in a house. Someone must owe you a favor or something...wow...goof luck!
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richhagen

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2010, 04:19:08 PM »
I can't find the news story now, but I just recently read that a company has started making panels with aerogel sandwiched between two layers of glass, apparently it allows light through although it scatters it.  It had r-ratings of 7 to 10, and I was thinking at the time that it might be useful for green houses and such.  The article I saw did not list pricing however.  Rich
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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2010, 08:07:07 PM »
Cabot?

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troy

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2010, 05:53:34 AM »
I would be very interested in knowing the cost of this product.  Any websites describing it?

thanks in advance,

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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2010, 06:20:49 AM »
The product range is "Nanogel" I believe: http://www.cabot-corp.com/Aerogel

I didn't pursue it as far as pricing, though I did speak to a real human being in Belgium somewhere IIRC.

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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2010, 04:56:47 AM »
I ordered the aerogel a few days ago (40mm aerogel faced with 9.5mm plasterboard).  Somewhat north of £100/m^2 including all taxes, and nearly 10x the K17 Kingspan Kooltherm that I originally had in mind for similar insulation performance...

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hydrosun

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2010, 01:37:46 AM »
In the US the only place I've seen it was at solarcomponents.com and they sold a 5 gallon bucket. I don't remember the exact price but I think it was between 50 and 100 dollars. They also sold glass panels with aerogel to make skylights.
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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2010, 09:37:16 AM »
Hah, my unicorn pelts are coming next Monday...  B^>

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2010, 01:21:21 PM »
The stuff arrived again (having been brought once prematurely on Friday by the shippers) and the builders took it away for storage until we start the works.

Pics are going up, but here's a sample below of the 5 sheets of 40mm aerogel on 9.5mm plasterboard on the pallet.

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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2010, 07:16:15 AM »
This is the start of my write-up.  Obviously not finished until the work has finished AND I have a year's worth of stats at least!

http://www.earth.org.uk/superinsulating-our-living-room.html

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DamonHD

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Re: SpaceTherm / Aerogel super-insulation
« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2010, 12:08:36 PM »
Basic works done (ie insulation is installed): needs plastering an repainting and installation of new slimline radiator, etc.

Pics:

http://gallery.hd.org/_virtual/ByCategory/demolition/superinsulating/a/living/room/

The builder disliked the aerogel since it was unpleasant to work with (difficult to cut, lots of nasty dust), and for the differential in cost and space for most other purposes I'd be tempted to go for 'normal' high-performance insulation board such as Kooltherm.

So, plasterer is in on Monday, and if the weather is kind and everything dries quickly, we may be all finished by Friday.

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