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Scientists develop game-changing 'glass brick' that could revolutionize construction: 'The highest insulating performance' (www.thecooldown.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Scientists develop game-changing 'glass brick' that could revolutionize construction: 'The highest insulating performance'::The team of scientists developed an aerogel glass brick, which is a translucent and thermally insulating material.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (9 children)

For comparison: From Seves Glass Block: "Unlike standard glass blocks that have a thermal transmission coefficient "U"of 2.8 W/sq mt x K), HTI has a "U" value of 1.8 W/(sq mt x K). (https://www.sevesglassblock.com/product/191916-hti-wave-sahara-2s/). So common glass block is 2.8, fancier glass block is 1.8, and this new Aeroblock 0.053!! I think I did my numbers correctly, and DANG! I wan't to start building walls with this stuff tomorrow!!

Also: Get the light & keep the warmth - A highly insulating, translucent aerogel glass brick for building envelopes https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710222016060

Edit: Looks like my numbers are off, above, per @A_[email protected]. Clearly, I'm neither an architect, nor a mathematician.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You are confusing the units : the value for aerogel is for a 1 m thick wall, while the value for your glass blocks is for 16 centimeter (one block thick). So an error of 16/100 ratio (or 100/16).

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

whoops! TY! Umm, wait, a 1 meter thick wall of aerogel?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

WMK values are generally quoted as transmission for 1m thick for insulating materials. (watts lost per meter squared per delta kelvin).

For example, PIR board is about 0.022. So for 100mm thick, it would be 0.22W lost per degree difference.
The aerogel glass is quoted at 0.053
Mineral wool is 0.038
Brick is 0.600 on a good day.
Pure aerogel is about 0.018.
Glass is about 1.000 (varies).

I can see this being used in situations where light is needed, but a window is not.
I can definitely see the benefits of making utility walls out of it.
It's going to be expensive though, at least until aerogel prices come down.
And it's not going to beat using the same depth of PIR board, or mineral wool. (assuming the numbers are all correct)

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