Aerogel glass fiber thermal insulation blanket is a new flexible thermal insulation material composited by nano-porous silica aerogel and continuous glass fiber substrate, serving as a high-end upgraded product of traditional fiber insulation materials. It adopts a composite structure of "reinforced skeleton + functional filler". The high-temperature resistant needled glass fiber blanket acts as the mechanical support skeleton, and the internal pores are evenly filled with hydrophobic silica aerogel powder. The two materials are closely combined to form an integrated flexible felt. This structure retains the excellent tensile strength, tear resistance and flexibility of glass fiber, while integrating the ultra-low thermal conductivity of aerogel. It thoroughly solves the defects of traditional glass wool and rock wool, such as large thickness, low thermal efficiency, easy dust falling and limited temperature resistance, and becomes an alternative material for high-temperature industrial insulation, equipment heat insulation and pipeline protection.
Its industrial preparation includes four major procedures: substrate pretreatment, aerogel compounding, hydrophobic curing and finishing. Firstly, continuous glass fibers are carded and needled to form low-density flexible fiber blankets. High-temperature degreasing and surface activation are carried out to improve the bonding force between fibers and aerogel. Then vacuum impregnation or dry powder compounding technology is adopted to make aerogel particles penetrate evenly into fiber gaps and avoid cavities and uneven distribution. The whole product is strengthened by hydrophobic treatment and low-temperature shaping to lock the nano-porous structure and prevent aerogel shedding and pulverization during service. Finally, finished products are obtained through cutting, rolling and quality inspection. The core of the process is to control compound uniformity and interfacial bonding strength. The mainstream dry compounding technology features lower energy consumption and less dust content, which is more suitable for mass production and on-site construction.
Benefiting from the composite structure, the material delivers outstanding comprehensive performance. Its thermal conductivity is as low as 0.018~0.024W/(m·K), and the thermal insulation capacity is 2 to 3 times that of ordinary glass fiber blankets. The thickness can be reduced by more than 60% under the same thermal insulation effect, greatly saving the space occupied by insulation structures. It has a wide temperature resistance range, with long-term service temperature up to 650℃ and short-term temperature resistance over 700℃. It is non-combustible and releases no toxic flue gas at high temperature, reaching Class A fire resistance standard. After hydrophobic modification, the overall water absorption rate is less than 2%, and the thermal performance will not decline due to water absorption in high-humidity environments such as open-air sites and underground pipe galleries.
In addition, the material has good flexibility and convenient construction. It can be bent freely and wrapped around special-shaped pipelines and complex equipment, without the installation limitations of rigid boards. The cured fibers produce far less dust than traditional rock wool, creating a cleaner working environment. Current technical optimization focuses on high temperature resistance modification, low dust and ultra-thin lightweight. By optimizing fiber proportion and aerogel compounding technology, mechanical strength and long-term stability are further improved. With dual advantages of structure and performance, aerogel glass fiber insulation blanket is gradually replacing traditional insulation materials and promoting the upgrading of industrial insulation systems towards light weight, high efficiency, safety and durability.