Aerogel commercialization: technology, markets and costs

Commercialization of aerogels has been slow due to several factors including cost and manufacturability issues. The technology itself is well enough developed as a result of extensive work over the past decade by an international community of researchers. Several substantial markets appear to exist for aerogels as thermal and sound insulators, if production costs can keep prices in line with competing established materials. In the present paper, the elements identified as key cost drivers are discussed, and a prognosis for the evolution of the technology leading to reduced cost aerogel production is given.