Aerogel Market Expected to Reach USD 2600.4 Million in 2032, Set to Surge with a 11.8% CAGR

Introduction

The global Aerogel Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by its unique properties such as lightweight structure, low thermal conductivity, and wide application in industries such as construction, oil and gas, automotive, and aerospace. The market size is expected to reach approximately USD 2,600.4 million by 2032, up from USD 876.5 million in 2023, growing at a (CAGR) of 11.8% over the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. This growth is primarily attributed to the increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions across various sectors.

Aerogels, known for their excellent insulation properties, are gaining popularity as industries, particularly automotive and construction, seek materials that offer both performance and eco-friendliness. For example, aerogels are used in electric vehicles to enhance thermal insulation while reducing weight, improving fuel efficiency. The oil and gas sector remains the largest end-user of aerogels, representing over 60% of market demand due to their extensive use in industrial insulation and safety applications.

Key opportunities for market expansion include the growing focus on sustainability and the increasing demand for advanced insulation materials in emerging markets. Additionally, innovations in production techniques and the development of new aerogel forms, such as polymer-based aerogels, are expected to drive further adoption across industries. Challenges such as high production costs and limited awareness, especially in developing regions, may hinder full market penetration, but ongoing research and development aim to address these issues.

Key Takeaways

Market Growth: The Aerogel market reached USD 876.5 million in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.8%, aiming to reach USD 2600.4 million by 2032.
Product Segmentation: Silica aerogels dominate the market with a 67% share, while polymer aerogels are the fastest-growing segment.
Technology Segmentation: Supercritical drying is the predominant technology, making up 73% of the market share.
Form Segmentation: Blanket aerogels hold a significant share (68%), favored for their insulation qualities, while particle aerogels are the fastest-growing segment.
End-User Segmentation: The oil and gas sector accounts for the largest share (62%) due to its wide range of applications, and the building and construction sector is the fastest-growing segment.
Regional Analysis: North America leads the market with a 46% share, driven by demand from various end-users. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region, driven by energy conservation and sustainable construction practices.

Aerogel Statistics

By replacing scrim with aerogel, MLI lowers TC by 23–37%.
Aerogels are materials that have been nanostructured and have low density, high surface area (>150 m2/g), and open porosity (usually 95%–99.99%).
In this regard, Ubeyitogullari, Brahma, Rose, and Ciftci (2018) have shown that, even after heating, wheat starch aerogels made from starch that was gelatinized at 120 °C produced a 4.5-fold increase in resistant starch content.
The aerogels’ thermal conductivity ranged from 0.022 to 0.025 W/m K, which is less than the air’s thermal conductivity of 0.024 to 0.032 W/m K.
Aerogel is a type of solid that is made up of 99.8% air
A unique class of solid materials known as aerogels has pores that are <1/3000th the width of a human hair at the nanoscale. Densities can be as low as 3 kg/m3, and porosity can be over 90% and occasionally as high as 99.9%.
An aerogel has unusual qualities due to its unique structure, such as having the lowest thermal conductivity (0.014 W/m K at ambient temperature).
Silica aerogel superinsulating glazing was created by Duer and Svendsen; it had a thickness of 7–12 mm and a solar transmittance of 84-92% with a U-value of less than 0.5 W/m2K.
With a transmittance of over 90%, this kind of aerogel-window glazing is 12% more transmittable than an uncoated glass slide.
With a high surface area/gram of up to 500 m2/g, aerogel-prepared MgO, CaO, and Al2O3 nanocrystals have demonstrated an exceptionally high capacity to destructively adsorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as opposed to physisorbing them at ambient temperature and pressure.
Our method resulted in translucent silica aerogels with a sky-blue hue. Prepared, barely fractured, cylindrical monoliths up to 5 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height were used.
When the MXene aerogel functions as a pressure sensor, the related aerogel’s interlayer porosity drops from 30.62% to 20.38% and then recovers to 30.14% after the release. This enables the stable formation of interlayer conductive channels.
With a wide detection range and the highest sensitivity, the MXene aerogel sensor with 40wt% CNF is the best option.
After mixing the hardener and resin, the aerogel particles are added at 0.5, 1 and 1.5 hours.
IIT Madras claims that under continuous flow circumstances, this graphene-modified silica aerogel eliminates more than 76% of trace pollutants (PPM level).

Emerging Trends

A significant trend is the increasing focus on sustainability within the aerogel industry. Manufacturers are enhancing the eco-friendliness of aerogels, emphasizing their reusability and recyclability. This shift is driven by growing environmental concerns and the need for materials that reduce energy consumption.
Technological innovations are also prevalent, with notable advancements in nanostructure engineering to improve the mechanical strength and functionality of aerogels. These developments are enabling the use of aerogels in more demanding applications across various sectors, including energy and transportation.
In the biomedical field, aerogels are being tailored for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering, utilizing their high surface area and porous structure to deliver therapeutic agents effectively. This application highlights the versatility of aerogels in enhancing the performance and functionality of biomedical materials.
The market is also witnessing an expansion in its application scope, ranging from thermal insulation in aerospace to energy storage in advanced batteries. These applications leverage the intrinsic properties of aerogels, such as thermal stability and high electrical conductivity, which are critical for high-performance materials in technological and industrial applications
These emerging trends underline the dynamic nature of the aerogel market and its potential for significant impact across multiple industries, driven by continuous innovations and a strong push towards sustainability and enhanced material properties.

Use Cases

Building Insulation: Aerogels are employed as high-performance insulation materials in the construction sector. They offer up to four times the insulative performance of traditional fiberglass or foam insulations. This is significant in the push for energy-efficient buildings, which is a rapidly growing market, projected to increase globally as regulations tighten on energy usage.
Oil and Gas: In the oil and gas industry, aerogels are crucial for thermal insulation in harsh environments. They are used to insulate pipelines and equipment in extreme conditions, ranging from Arctic cold to oceanic depths. This sector is one of the largest consumers of aerogels, leveraging their thermal properties to reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency during the transportation and processing of hydrocarbons.
Automotive: With the automotive industry’s shift towards lighter and more energy-efficient vehicles, aerogels are used to provide thermal insulation and lightweight solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). They help in managing the thermal regulation of EV batteries, which is critical for safety and efficiency. The demand for aerogels in the automotive sector is expected to grow in line with the increase in EV production.
Aerospace Applications: Aerogels are used in aerospace for thermal insulation in spacecraft, satellites, and space suits. NASA, for instance, uses aerogel blankets to protect equipment and personnel against extreme temperatures encountered in space. The lightweight nature of aerogels makes them ideal for applications where every gram of weight savings contributes to mission success.
Biomedical Applications: Aerogels are finding roles in the biomedical field for drug delivery systems, wound dressings, and as scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and porous structure. These applications benefit from aerogels’ ability to be engineered at the nano-level to deliver drugs or support tissue growth effectively.
Environmental Remediation: Aerogels are applied in environmental cleanup projects to absorb pollutants due to their high surface area and porosity. They can capture oil spills, remove heavy metals from water, and purify air, helping to mitigate environmental hazards effectively.

Recent Development

Aspen Aerogels Inc., established in 2001 and based in Northborough, Massachusetts, is a leader in the aerogel technology sector, particularly noted for its high-performance aerogel insulation products such as Cryogel, Pyrogel, and Spaceloft. These products are primarily used in the energy infrastructure and building materials markets. Aspen Aerogels is strategically positioned in the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market, providing innovative solutions like PyroThin, which helps manage thermal runaway in EV batteries. This specialization has allowed them to carve out a significant niche, supporting their expansion and the adoption of their technology across various industries, reinforcing their market strength.

Cabot Corporation is a prominent player in the aerogel market, particularly known for its high-quality silica aerogel products. They focus on creating innovative thermal insulation solutions, which are integral in energy-saving materials for buildings, industrial infrastructure, and consumer products. A key product in their aerogel line is the ENTERA™ aerogel particles, specifically engineered for use in electric vehicle (EV) batteries as thermal barriers. This product offers low thermal conductivity and high thermal stability, making it essential for improving safety and efficiency in EVs. Cabot’s extensive experience and advancements in aerogel technology also allow them to support a broad range of applications, from building materials to industrial coatings, all while adhering to sustainability goals.

Aerogel Technologies LLC, based in Boston, MA, focuses on manufacturing robust monolithic aerogels including silica, carbon, and polymer-based aerogels since its inception in 2004. The company is known for its innovative Airloy products, which are strong enough for real-world applications while maintaining aerogel’s inherent insulative properties. They cater to a diverse range of sectors, including aerospace, where their lightweight and insulating materials are highly valued. Aerogel Technologies is a key player in pushing the boundaries of aerogel applications through continuous research and development.

Active Aerogels LDA is a private company based in Portugal, specializing in the development and manufacture of aerogels for a variety of applications. The company’s aerogels are designed for thermal insulation and the adsorption of pollutants, making them suitable for sectors such as space, aeronautics, oil and gas, housing, and wastewater treatment.

Founded in 2012, Active Aerogels focuses on creating highly porous, ultralight materials that meet demanding thermal requirements and are tailored for specific needs, including flexibility and hydrophobicity. Their production methods include super-critical drying and freeze-drying techniques, enhancing the functionality of their aerogel products for diverse industrial applications.

BASF SE, a major player in the chemical industry, has actively expanded its involvement in the aerogel sector through strategic partnerships, particularly with Aspen Aerogels. This collaboration focuses on developing and supplying advanced aerogel-based insulation products like SLENTEX®. These products are designed for high-performance thermal insulation applications across various industries, including building and construction. The partnership also aims to enhance the market presence of these innovative insulation solutions globally, leveraging both BASF’s chemical expertise and Aspen’s specialized aerogel technology.

JIOS Aerogel Corporation, headquartered in Singapore, leads in manufacturing silica aerogel powder, focusing on enhancing electric vehicle (EV) battery safety and performance through their innovative Thermal Blade® insulation solution. Established in 2013, JIOS Aerogel has recently expanded with a new manufacturing plant in Singapore to meet the rising demand for aerogel technology in EV batteries, driven by stringent global safety standards and the need for advanced thermal management in lithium-ion batteries. This expansion highlights JIOS’s commitment to pioneering cost-effective aerogel production technologies.

Nano Technology Co. Ltd, established in April 2004, has distinguished itself as a pioneering force in the aerogel industry within China, specializing in the development, production, and sale of silica aerogel and its composites. As the earliest and largest producer of these nanoporous thermal insulation materials in China, the company has developed a robust portfolio that includes applications in diverse sectors such as building insulation, industrial thermal management, and aerospace. Nano Technology Co. Ltd’s leadership in this niche market underscores its capacity for innovation and its pivotal role in advancing aerogel technology on a global scale.

Dow Inc. is actively involved in the aerogel market, focusing on innovative aerogel applications, particularly in insulation and personal care products. Their product, DOWSIL™ VM-2270 Aerogel Fine Particles, is notable for its high porosity and hydrophobic properties, making it effective in various uses including advanced insulation solutions where low thermal conductivity is essential. Dow’s aerogel products are designed for ease of use and cost-effectiveness, making them attractive for both industrial applications and consumer goods.

Enersens is a leading company in the aerogel sector, specializing in the development of silica aerogel-based products for advanced insulation. Their solutions include aerogel granules, powders, and blankets, used in applications such as electric vehicle battery insulation, building thermal barriers, and electronic protection. Enersens leverages innovative production processes to create efficient, high-performance materials that help improve energy efficiency and fire safety in various sectors. Their products are designed for sustainability and provide cost-effective super-insulation, contributing to reducing energy consumption and enhancing thermal protection across industries.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the aerogel market is positioned for significant growth due to its unique properties, including extreme lightness, superior thermal insulation, and environmental benefits. These properties make aerogels increasingly popular in diverse industries such as construction, automotive, oil and gas, aerospace, and even healthcare. Driven by the rising demand for energy-efficient and sustainable materials, aerogels offer valuable solutions for insulation and lightweighting, particularly as industries shift towards greener technologies. Despite challenges like high production costs, ongoing technological advancements are expected to make aerogels more accessible and effective, thereby propelling market expansion in the coming years.

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