CPD - Aerogel Insulation: Properties and Applications in Construction

Many business industries have been using aerogel insulation for building covering systems for a long time. It includes construction, aerospace, and other industries. All of them have their way of using these particles to lower the heat in a structure. For example, in aerospace, NASA has been using it for their space suits. They use it because it has an extremely thin and porous structure. Doing so can help them avoid high-temperature changes while keeping the optimal conditions.

In the building sector, you can use silica aerogel in panel or blanket forms. It is put together with building layers like walls, roofs, and floors. It aims to provide superior heat covering. You can do this by putting this silica aerogel in a limited space or where more power is needed. This type can greatly improve the insulating properties compared to any other type. To understand more about it, this CPD programme provides you with the answer.

Understanding of aerogel insulation

Aerogel insulation is a substance that has thin solid gels that can be changed to air or gas. This change happens because its components are made of very fine chains that are attached to one another. The chains have pores that can make tiny air pockets throughout the substance, which can trap air. If there is a lot of air, the aerogel is very thin and lighter compared to it.

Aerogel insulation has elements that can support structures with greater weight, poor flow for electricity, low dielectric constant (low-k), high specific surface area, and outstanding heat and soundproofing. With these in mind, it can change how several sectors work, including the building sector. You can use it for building substances and covering for a building.

In terms of rules, using this frozen smoke is optional, as there is no specific rule that explicitly controls this heat shield. However, its usage still falls under the broader building laws that mainly focus on achieving a certain heat movement for walls, roofs, and floors. This means that builders can use aerogel for their building work as long as it meets the U-value standards. U-value standards are rules for checking the building elements for insulation.

How does aerogel insulation work?

Aerogel insulation aims to prevent heat resource transfer through conduction, convection, and radiation by trapping air within its pores. This can be done when the silica, which is the main component of aerogel, is combined with solvent to create a gel and subjected to supercritical extraction. This process aims to introduce liquid carbon dioxide into the gel. If the carbon exceeds the critical point, it can then become a gas or a liquid. This results in the form of aerogel.

The solid components in the silica aerogel are made of tiny three-dimensional structures that consist of 3% of the volume and are very poor conductors. This makes them a very effective insulation type for blocking the heat.  It can also make it easy to handle and install, especially in construction applications where weight is a concern.

Programme Overview

In making a building, it is important for the builder to thoroughly consider the safety, aesthetics, and comfortable function for the occupants, including the insulation systems. There are several types of insulation, but one of them is aerogel insulation. This super insulation allows your structure to reduce the heat from the outside environment with lightweight materials. However, heat shields may come with several problems that may hinder your building project.

These aerogel insulation problems are mainly caused by several factors that can possibly cause delays and increased labour costs in construction projects. To learn more about it, the College of Contract Management created this CPD programme. It will teach you how to maximise your insulation systems using materials that are best functional but remain safe for the environment.

Programme Outline

This CPD - Aerogel Insulation: Properties and Applications in Construction course explores several parts of using frozen smoke as building covering, especially in the building sector. Knowing these aspects provides you with the knowledge and skills to apply it in lowering temperatures with less insulation volume. Doing so can make the building more comfortable for occupants to live with. By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understanding the basic information of aerogel insulation
• Knowing how frozen smoke avoids heat movement
• Analysing the major function of high porosity
• Identifying the problems of using silica aerogel
• Learning the best ways to use super insulation in the building sector

Admission Criteria

This aerogel insulation training is aimed at building workers, architects, engineers, and building designers, people from all backgrounds can also join the class. This is because the course doesn’t need any formal educational background. Also, even if you don’t have any relevant experience, you can still enrol. We aim to help individuals to learn more about the building sector, especially insulation, as it can be their stepping stone for career growth.

What are the disadvantages of aerogel?

There are several disadvantages of aerogel including expensive production, the structure's brittleness, and a difficult production process. These problems happen due to a lot of factors. For example, the production of aerogel insulation needs modern technology, expensive raw materials that need a lot of money, and substances that are hard to find.

On the other hand, if you only use traditional covering items, like fibreglass or foam, you can save more money, and the substances are easy to get. However, this situation can limit the way aerogel insulation helps people. For you to be aware of the challenges that you may face during the setup process, below is the list you may take a look at:

Cost

You will need a lot of money to use aerogel insulation because it needs a difficult and specialised production process and chemicals to create it. Using critical drying steps and precise control for this material can also add to the cost of its production compared to more conventional insulation materials. But many companies are looking for ways to improve this component production process to lower the expenses. They are using large production and more efficient building materials.

Fragility

Because of its very thin and porous structure, this covering can easily be destroyed when subjected to more pressure. It is much better if you don’t use this insulation in situations where it might get mechanical stress or vibration. You need to handle this frozen smoke with care, and it may need specialised steps to avoid damage. You can use materials that contain polymer as an alternative with better building quality and less fragility.

Difficult manufacturing

Insulation from silica aerogel undergoes a difficult production process because the component needs a specialised procedure to remove the liquid from the gel structure. It requires advanced tools, and the properties need to be in good condition. This is to prevent the building from collapsing. With this, it is a bit challenging to produce aerogel for an insulation system. 

Best practices for using aerogel insulation in the construction industry

The best practice for using aerogel insulation on the building site is using tapes to create an airtight layer, especially around corners, edges, and penetrations. You also need to avoid applying the aerogel to lightweight components, like shelves, kitchen units, or televisions, because they are prone to cracking. Explaining these samples alone is not enough because there are many best practices you can follow to use this covering type.

To help you with that, the College of Contract Management creates valuable classes for learners who want to obtain knowledge and improve their competencies about the construction industry. It is specifically about aerogel insulation, which you can use within the sector. This is because we aim to provide detailed learning materials where you can complete them in less than a day. This makes the lesson journey easier while ensuring an effective learning experience for everyone.

This CPD - Aerogel Insulation: Properties and Applications in Construction aims to improve your understanding of this heat shield type. To help you learn, we aim to deliver high-quality learning materials. We are still working on the speakers and material arrangements to ensure your study. You can contact our team if you have any questions or need further assistance. We are ready to help you.