Source: IDTechEx

IDTechEx has released an extensive report on the global aerogel market, discussing present day as well as future developments in the field.

It not only covers market analyses and forecasts, but also gives an elaborate introduction to aerogel properties and manufacturing techniques. Moreover, aerogel products and their applications are summarized and SWOT analyses for the different material types are presented. Last but not least, the report also features profiles of key aerogel manufacturers.

The authors of the 123-page report claim to have issued “the most comprehensive and authoritative view of the global aerogel market”, based on the company’s “interview-based primary research”.

While not all chapters might be of a particular interest to all readers, the broad approach of this report certainly offers the opportunity for both  researchers and entrepreneurs to dive into the field of aerogels.

Full report: https://www.idtechex.com/research/reports/aerogels-2017-2027-technologies-markets-and-players-000507.asp?viewopt=showall

Report sample pages: IDTechEx_Samplepages_Aerogels20172027TechnologiesMarketsandPlayers

An initial determination of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has found two Asian aerogel manufacturers guilty of infringing on several of Aspen Aerogel’s patents.

The ruling came more than a year after the complaint by Aspen Aerogels (filed in May 2016), asserting Nano Tech Co. (South Korea) and Guangdog Alison High-Tech Co. (China) are importing patented insulants into the US. The motions of both companies, stating the invalidity of the Aspen Aerogels patent claims, have been rejected by Judge McNamara. A final ruling on the matter is expected in January 2018.

With Aspen Aerogel announcing to spend almost 4 % of their projected annual revenue on expenses associated with patent enforcement in their financial outlook for 2017, it becomes clear the significance this matter has for the company. The outcome of the investigation will therefore be decisive for the future strategy of the company in terms of protection of their intellectual property.

Read more at: https://www.printedelectronicsworld.com/articles/12910/initial-results-emerge-from-the-aspen-aerogel-patent-infringement-case

Read more at: http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20171002/NEWS01/171009994/northborough-manufacturer-wins-preliminary-ruling-in-asian-patent-case

Silver nanowire aerogel on flower.

Researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California, USA) have recently manufactured monolithic aerogels consisting of silver nanowires (AgNW). The newly devised production technique, consisting of freeze-casting and sintering, facilitates tunable aerogel properties (e.g. bulk densities, pore structure, and conductivity). Due to its electrical conductivity, applications for the new material range from fuel cells to medical devices.

Although the discovered aerogel structures are of an outstanding quality, the researchers are already aiming at enhancing the material features.The researchers hope to further increase the electrical conductivity by reducing the average pore size and nanowire diameter, while at the same time increasing the length of the nanowires. Of course this prospect only boosts the likelihood of finding silver nanowire aerogels in future applications.

More details: Fang Qian et al. Ultralight Conductive Silver Nanowire Aerogels, Nano Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02790

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-10-ultralight-silver-nanowire-aerogel-boon.html