June 7, 2009

What's stronger than steel and lighter than air?


Demonstrate Strength: A 2.5 kg brick is supported by a piece of aerogel weighing only 2 grams.


Demonstrate Insulation:


The Stardust dust collector with aerogel blocks. (NASA)

Aerogel! In a nutshell Aerogel is a man made material with the lowest known density of any solid. Could Aerogel be making a come back? The Aerogel was first created by Samuel Stephens Kistler in 1931, as a result of a bet with Charles Learned over who could replace the liquid inside of a jam jar with gas without causing shrinkage.

Applications:

  • Skylight Insulation
  • Help thicken paints
  • Cosmetic
  • Reinforcing structures
  • NASA use to trap space dust
  • US NAVY use for thermal protection for divers

Aerogel FAQs
  • How is aerogel made?
  • What is it used for?
  • What does it feel like?
  • Why is it blue?
  • Where can I get some aerogel?
  • How much does aerogel cost?
  • What makes aerogel so special?
  • Who invented aerogel?
  • Why is it called a gel?
  • Is it solid?
  • What happens if I touch it?
  • Is aerogel such a good insulator because the air within is trapped and immobile? And, is this why it doesn't melt?
  • Would it be possible to create aerogel lighter than air by using helium instead of air?
All Answer

1 comment:

  1. Hi there! Did you ever experience such a situation when a random person has stolen any of your personal ideas? Can't wait to see your reply.

    ReplyDelete

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