I. Aerogel: The New Insulation Star Created by Nanotechnology
Aerogel, this material that sounds futuristic, has quietly entered our lives. It is hailed as the lightest solid material in the world, with a density of only 3 kg/m³, not much heavier than air. 
But what is even more astonishing is its heat insulation performance: the thermal conductivity is as low as 0.013 - 0.025 W/(m·K), making it one of the materials with the lowest known thermal conductivity among solid materials. 
These materials will be used in the insulation systems of oil pipelines, industrial furnaces and even high-speed trains. Technician Liu told us: "The insulation effect of the aerogel felt is 2 to 5 times that of traditional materials, and it also has a longer service life." 
The key feature of aerogel: 
It has an astonishing ability to withstand high temperatures, with a maximum temperature tolerance of 1400℃. It performs exceptionally well in spacecraft thermal protection and nuclear power plant equipment. 
Overall hydrophobic property, effectively preventing water from entering the internal parts of the pipeline equipment. 
With A1-level fire resistance performance, it is safe and reliable. 
The required thickness is only 1/3 to 1/5 of that of traditional materials, saving space. 
However, aerogel also has its weaknesses - the price is approximately 5 to 8 times that of traditional materials, which makes many projects with limited budgets hesitate to adopt it. 
II. Insulation Fibers: The "Veteran" in the Field of Thermal Insulation
In the field of insulation materials, insulation fibers (including rock wool and glass wool) can be regarded as seasoned veterans. These inorganic fiber materials, with their affordable prices and reliable performance, have long held the dominant position in the building insulation market.
On the exterior wall of a building under construction, workers are installing rock wool insulation boards. Project Manager Zhang explains: "The thermal conductivity of the rock wool board is approximately 0.040 W/(m·K), and it can withstand temperatures up to 650°C. Although its insulation performance is not as good as new materials, it has low cost and good fire resistance, making it the most cost-effective choice for building insulation at present." 
The key feature of the insulation foam: 
The thermal conductivity of glass wool ranges from 0.037 to 0.042 W/(m·K), and its temperature resistance is 500 - 600℃. 
The construction is simple and straightforward, with mature technology, and it is applicable to various complex structures. 
It has excellent fire resistance performance, serving as a guarantee for the safety of buildings. 
Affordable price, still competitive in ordinary buildings 
However, the insulation performance of the insulation cotton will gradually decline over time, and it is prone to the "thin top and thick bottom" phenomenon, which can cause thermal gaps in the pipelines and lead to significant heat loss. In high-end energy-efficient buildings, its position is now being challenged by new materials. 
III. Vacuum Glass: The "Transparent Guardian" of Building Windows
When we talk about "glass paper", we must mention its upgraded version - vacuum glass. At the 2025 International Zero-Carbon Building Conference, Hengzhen vacuum heating glass made a stunning appearance and attracted widespread attention from the industry.
This revolutionary product draws on the principle of vacuum insulation. Its heat insulation efficiency is 2 to 4 times that of traditional insulating glass, and it can reduce building operating energy consumption by up to 50%. A 1-centimeter-thick vacuum glass without tail has an insulation effect comparable to that of a 1-meter-thick brick wall! 
The unique skills of vacuum glass: 
Superior insulation performance, significantly reducing air conditioning energy consumption 
The sound insulation performance has been enhanced by more than four times, effectively blocking urban noise. 
Provide efficient solutions for energy-saving renovations of existing building doors and windows 
Reduce heat loss in winter and block outdoor heat in summer 
In areas where centralized heating is not available in the north and where individual heating systems are used in the south, Hengzhen vacuum heating glass has addressed the shortcomings of traditional heating methods, becoming the core driving force for the transformation of green building heating. 
IV. Vacuum Insulation Board: The Master of Ultra-Thin and High-Efficiency Insulation
The vacuum insulation board (VIP) is regarded as the "black technology" in the field of insulation. It is made by enclosing a microporous core material within an airtight film, and the interior is evacuated to a nearly vacuum state, resulting in an extremely low thermal conductivity of just 0.008W/(m·K), far exceeding that of traditional insulation materials. 
The ultimate technique of the vacuum insulation panel: 
The insulation performance is 6 to 10 times that of traditional materials. 
The panel walls are thin, saving space and increasing the usable area of the interior. 
Has high adhesion strength to the base wall and is not prone to falling off. 
It has excellent sound insulation performance and does not require additional wall sound insulation. 
However, vacuum insulation panels also have significant drawbacks - they cannot be cut during construction, require professional installation teams, and have a short-term temperature resistance of up to 800℃. For long-term use, the vacuum level must be maintained to prevent degradation. Currently, they are mainly used in high-end fields such as cold storage and precision instruments. 
From the comparison, it can be seen that each of the four materials has its own advantages, and there is no absolute "winner"; there is only the one that is most suitable for the specific application scenario. 
Ultra-high temperature environment (>1000℃): Aerogels stand out as the top choice in high-tech fields such as aerospace and nuclear power. 
Building exterior wall insulation: The vacuum insulation board and aerogel composite board have significant advantages and can significantly reduce energy consumption. They are particularly suitable for passive ultra-low energy buildings. 
Conventional industrial piping: Insulation foam remains the top performer in terms of cost-effectiveness, and it cannot be replaced in cost-sensitive projects. 
Energy-saving renovation of doors and windows: Vacuum glass leads the way, bringing a revolutionary breakthrough to building energy conservation.