The advantages of aerogel insulation 
High flexibility 
The aerogel insulation products have extremely strong flexibility. They come in various forms, such as aerogel concrete, aerogel panels and aerogel felt. These products are usually supplied in rolls and come in different sizes and specifications. Moreover, aerogel insulation products can be easily cut into the shapes and sizes we desire. They can be used on any surface, such as walls, roofs or floors, which greatly reduces the complexity of inventory management. What's more, the production of aerogel insulation products is relatively easy. 
2. No need for organic adhesives 
In common insulation materials, the main function of the adhesive is to bond all the fiber elements together. However, when the temperature rises above 200 degrees Celsius, these adhesives tend to decompose, causing the fibers to become loose. This situation is quite common in some buildings, such as when the external coating is removed during maintenance, one can observe that the fiber insulation materials start to droop and cannot be used any longer. 
However, the aerogel insulation material does not have this problem because it does not require organic adhesives. This enables the aerogel insulation material to maintain its thermal and physical stability at higher temperatures. 
3. Breathable and water-resistant 
Most of the insulation systems on the market, such as glass fiber, polystyrene, and mineral wool, tend to absorb moisture and retain it within the material. This eventually makes them vulnerable to corrosion under the insulation layer (CUI). When damp insulation materials come into contact with any metal surface, CUI occurs. However, using aerogel can easily avoid this situation because aerogel is hydrophobic. Functionally, aerogel can prevent water and moisture from penetrating through gaps and leaks into the insulation system. 
Furthermore, regardless of the form in which the aerogel insulation material exists, it is breathable. When walls or equipment are heated, this breathability of the aerogel insulation material allows water vapor to pass through, thereby maintaining good air circulation. 
4. The lowest value of K 
The K value actually represents the thermal conductivity of the material. For any material, the lower its K value is, the better its heat insulation performance will be. The aerogel insulation system has the lowest K value, which enables it to be made into a very thin shape as needed. 
This unique property makes aerogel insulation materials more popular in areas with limited space. Moreover, aerogel insulation systems are lightweight, which also saves a lot of costs in terms of material transportation, storage and logistics. However, just like any material, aerogel has its own advantages and disadvantages. After understanding the advantages of aerogel, let's also take a look at its disadvantages. 
The disadvantages and limitations of aerogel insulation 
The cost is relatively high. 
Compared with other insulation systems, the price of aerogel insulation material is slightly higher. Although the price of aerogel is gradually decreasing as the production scale expands, currently in the market, the cost of aerogel insulation material is still relatively high. 
2. Temperature Limitation 
The design of the aerogel insulation material can withstand a maximum temperature of up to 650 degrees Celsius. If the temperature exceeds this range, other suitable types of insulation materials need to be used. 
The characteristics of aerogel 
Outstanding heat insulation performance 
One of the most prominent characteristics of aerogel is its heat insulation property. Its heat insulation effect is 39 times better than that of the best glass fiber insulation material. 
2. Extremely low volume density 
Aerogel holds the record for the lowest volume density among all materials. Its volume density is as low as 0.011 grams per cubic centimeter. 
3. Unique thermal conductivity 
The aerogel exhibits remarkable thermal conductivity properties, which are attributed to its unique structure. Its thermal conductivity is very low, ranging from approximately 0.005 watts/(meter·kelvin) to 0.016 watts/(meter·kelvin). 
4. Obstruct heat conduction 
The convoluted and porous structure of the aerogel makes heat conduction extremely difficult. Whether through a solid or a gas, it is very challenging for heat to penetrate from one side of the aerogel to the other. 
5. Excellent comprehensive performance 
Due to the high porosity of aerogels, they possess excellent physical, thermal and acoustic properties, which gives them significant advantages when compared to other traditional insulation materials. 
6. Hydrophilicity 
The aerogel has the characteristic of being hydrophilic. 
7. Chemical Stability 
At a temperature of up to 950 degrees Celsius, the aerogel will not react with any metal. 
The practical characteristics of aerogel in households 
Enhance flexibility 
Although aerogel is an excellent thermal insulator, it is also very brittle, which to some extent limits its practical applications. To overcome this limitation, people embed aerogel into structures similar to fiber pads, thus achieving both excellent thermal performance and strong flexibility simultaneously. 
2. Excellent thermal conductivity and breathability 
The thermal conductivity of aerogel is 0.015 watts/(meter·kelvin), which makes it one of the best insulation materials currently in use. Additionally, its approximately 0.05-meter high permeability makes aerogel highly suitable for building renovations. 
3. Hydrophobicity 
Aerogel is hydrophobic, which means it can repel water or any liquid. 
4. Environmentally friendly and harmless 
The aerogel insulation board does not contain any foaming agents, which means it will not release any harmful gases into the building over time. 
5. Long-term stability 
After extensive testing, it was found that the performance of aerogel would not deteriorate or be affected for 50 years or more.