Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Vacuum insulated panel earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
Dewar flask
1892
Japanese fridge VIP
1990s
va-Q-tec panel
2000s
Porextherm
1990s–
LNG MLI
1960s–
Retrofit city wall
2010s
Getter pill
component
Fumed silica
1960s–
Pairings
aerogel
Solid ultra-low λ without a vacuum to lose.
mineral-wool
Thick, cheap, puncture-proof.
polyurethane-foam
The usual thin-ish organic board.
phase-change
Stores heat rather than blocking it.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Thermal
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Mineral wool
Melted rock or glass spun into A1 batts — the default non-combustible insulation of codes.
Overall 69 🧽Polyurethane foam
The low-λ organic foam of fridges and buildings — excellent insulation, a fire design problem unless PIR and coverings are honest.
Overall 46 🕯️Phase-change material
Latent-heat packets that flatten temperature swings — not a substitute for λ insulation, a complement.
Overall 36