Nanoporous insulation

The high insulating capacity of nanomaterials comes from their composition of nanoporous ceramic particles. There are only temporary contacts between these particles and the surface ratio is the lowest possible. As a result, the thermal conduction between solid particles is reduced to a minimum. Nanopores also limit convective heat transfer.

All these characteristics make this type of material more efficient than conventional insulating materials such as mineral fibres, refractory bricks and other inorganic products.

This product consists of silica SiO2 (~80%), silicon carbide SiC (~15%) and opacifiers (TiO2 or ZrO2). Nano T is light and powdery and is available as pressure-injection boards.

Main properties of Nano T

  • Usage temperature 950 to 1050°C
  • Very low thermal conduction, from 0.021 to 0.040 W/mK
  • Good machinability for shaping parts
  • Reinforcement by PE film, aluminium foil and more available
  • Class A1 flame protection
  • Thermal shock resistance
  • Excluded from all carcinogenic classifications
  • Stored as a non-hazardous and non-pollutant product

Applications of Nano T

  • Tapping launders
  • Refractory coatings
  • Storage, heating systems
  • Melting furnaces
  • Industrial furnaces
  • Flame protection
  • Thermal insulation
  • Glass treatment

Further informations

Standard dimensions of Nano T

Our products are available as boards/panels. The standard dimensions are:

  • 500 x 600 mm
  • 600 x 1000 mm
  • 1000 x 1200 mm
  • Thicknesses 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 mm

Machinability

Our machining skills mean we can produce parts with the most complex geometries, from prototype to series. Simply send us your plans.

Technical data of nano T

Properties

Units

Nano T High

Nano T Ultra

Density

kg/m3

250

230

Peak Temperature

°C

1050

950

Colour

White

Grey

Compressive Strength (cold)

MPa

3

/

Compressive Strength (700°C)

MPa

1.3

/

Flexural Strength (cold)

MPa

/

0.16

Specific Heat (400°C)

J/kg.K

1.05

/

Thermal Conductivity

200°C

W/mK

0.021

0.02

400°C

W/mK

 /

0.024

800°C

W/mK

 /

0.04

Shrinkage

 (@ 800°C / 24h)

%

0.5

1

Composite Nano T Ultra (146.61k)

Technical data sheet : Nano T Ultra Nanoporous Silica

FAQs that can help you in this category

What is the difference between a microporous and nanoporous thermal insulator?

Final Advanced Materials' microporous insulators have sub-micron pores, limiting thermal conduction. Nanoporous insulators have even smaller pores (<100 nm), reducing thermal transfers still further. Final Advanced Materials' nanoporous materials offer extremely low thermal conductivity levels (~0.015–0.025 W/m·K to 200°C), although they are more effective than those of microporous materials. However, nanoporous materials are more sensitive to moisture and mechanically much more fragile: they cannot be subjected to mechanical stresses during operation.

What high-temperature insulating material has the lowest thermal conductivity (lambda)?

The nanoporous panels distributed by Final Advanced Materials have very a low thermal conductivity, with values ranging from 0.015 to 0.025 W/m·K at moderate temperature (200–400°C). At high temperature (>800°C) these values are higher but are still lower than those of more traditional insulators. By comparison, fibrous insulators are generally around 0.1–0.3 W/m·K. The choice of insulator will also depend on its mechanical strength and on the environment.

Can microporous insulation boards be specifically tailored using a CNC machine?

Yes, the microporous boards offered by Final Advanced Materials can be machined with CNC (milling or cutting). Their low mechanical resistance (often <4 MPa when compressed) requires low speeds and special tools. They cause fine dust, requiring a dust extraction system. Although these composites are not hard, they pose a high risk of scaling and crumbling: loads must therefore be minimised, and stripping of material must be avoided. The resulting powder is very abrasive, and it is therefore essential that a dust extraction system is installed on your machinery. We can machine these materials in our production shop.

How can I avoid moisture regain in microporous and nanoporous insulators?

Microporous and nanoporous insulators are hygroscopic due to their high specific surface area. Exposure to moisture can increase thermal conductivity and even destroy the structure of the material. Final Advanced Materials therefore recommends encapsulation (aluminium foil) or a hydrophobic coating. Pre-drying (100–200°C) is often required before use to restore performance.

We require a complete description of the application and of the stresses before we can recommend the most suitable product.