Aerogel in 2020s: Price still premium

Scores compare Aerogel with the rest of the atlas on strength, heat, fire behaviour, insulation, workability and circularity. They are editorial, not certificates. Seven chapters follow. Fire and insulation claims name test families (Euroclass, ASTM E84, ISO 5660, KS F) rather than inventing a single safety number.

Aerogel (SiO2 network + >90% air) is a family of grades whose density ~0.003–0.15 g/cm³, heat band silica sinters; organic aerogels burn, and fire letter silica A1; polymer aerogels not. Aerogel is sold as grades, not as a single substance. Chemistry SiO2 network + >90% air, density ~0.003–0.15 g/cm³, heat band silica sinters; organic aerogels burn.

This atlas treats Aerogel as a system: mill route, coatings, tests and the cavity it sits in. Conductivity note: silica blankets ~0.015–0.025 W/m·K class. Insulation score 98/100 is relative to 32 entries — metals lose, VIPs and aerogels win. Fire letter in editorial use: silica A1; polymer aerogels not. Do not equate A1 with “safe in a blaze” or E with “illegal”. Assemblies decide.