1.Microporous thermal insulation material is the best comprehensive performance insulation material to date.
The microporous thermal insulation board is a highly efficient insulation material manufactured by pressing nano-silica with suitable additives through a special dry pressing process.
Its exceptional microporous structure and the synergistic effect of various additives substantially suppress heat conduction, convection, and radiation within different temperature ranges. This material surpasses all traditional insulation materials, such as lightweight insulating bricks, mineral wool, perlite, calcium silicate, vermiculite products, ceramic fibers, and even aerogel blankets in most temperature ranges, with its thermal conductivity even lower than that of static air (see Figure 1).
Due to its superior insulation properties, it achieves better fireproofing and thermal insulation effects with the same insulation layer thickness as traditional insulation materials. Alternatively, it can achieve the same fireproofing and thermal insulation effects with a thinner insulation layer.
Moreover, the microporous thermal insulation board is an eco-friendly insulation material known for its safety, efficiency, and long-lasting efficacy. According to tests conducted by relevant institutions, the microporous thermal insulation material is classified as A1 non-combustible material and AQ1 grade smokeless and non-toxic material. Its production process does not generate harmful substances or waste detrimental to the environment or human health. Unlike the production process of other traditional insulation materials, it does not consume excessive energy or pose hazards to production personnel.
In summary, the microporous thermal insulation board represents a new generation of insulation materials characterized by extraordinary insulation performance, ultra-thin thickness, and superior environmental friendliness.
Figure 1 Comparison of the Thermal Conductivity Coefficients of Various Major Thermal Insulation Materials at Different Temperature Ranges
2.Microporous thermal insulation materials serve as passive fire protection materials in modern transportation vehicles.
Microporous thermal insulation material is a state-of-the-art passive fire-resistant material, significantly enhancing safety measures in modern transportation vehicles, including cars, high-speed trains, aircraft, and ships. Aspects such as speed, style, and comfort are paramount in these vehicles, with safety being the top priority.
Transportation vehicles harbor numerous flammable and combustible substances. A localized fire outbreak, if not promptly controlled, poses a significant threat to the vehicle and passengers’ lives. Despite the availability of escape measures such as fire extinguishers, life hammers, and the extensive use of flame-retardant materials, fires cannot be entirely suppressed.
With the increasing prevalence of lightweight and new energy vehicles, designers have incorporated more aluminum and aluminum composite materials into the vehicle’s structure. However, these materials exhibit poor heat resistance and can soften and melt in the event of a fire, leading to structural damage. Additionally, as the energy structure evolves, a growing number of new energy batteries, particularly lithium batteries, are being employed as vehicle power sources. However, short circuits or high voltage breakdowns in these batteries can result in vehicle malfunctions or even spontaneous combustion.
Therefore, the importance of thermal insulation and fire prevention in critical areas of transportation vehicles has become increasingly crucial.
While fire incidents cannot be entirely prevented, ensuring passenger safety remains a key design principle. With the advancement of fire prevention technology standards, the challenge designers face is how to protect passengers during fires while also considering material light weighting, flame retardance, eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness.
One effective method is the application of a passive fire protection system that confines the fire within a specific area, preventing threats to passenger safety and vehicle structural integrity.
Microporous thermal insulation boards are the most outstanding fire-resistant thermal insulation materials available to date. Their microporous structure blocks various forms of thermal convection, conduction, and radiation. These materials exhibit much higher thermal insulation efficiency than most common insulation materials, particularly at high temperatures. They can withstand extreme heat without combustion and do not emit any toxic fumes during fires.
Under high-temperature conditions, microporous materials demonstrate at least four times better insulation properties than traditional insulators like mineral fibers and calcium silicate boards. Their thermal conductivity at 800-1000 degrees is less than 0.038W/m.K. In a well-designed passive fire protection scenario, a 6-8mm thick microporous insulation board displayed similar heat insulation protection as a 63mm thick ceramic fiber during flame exposure tests. In other words, it achieves the same fire protection effect with only 1/8th of the thickness required.
Furthermore, achieving the same fire protection effect, microporous thermal insulation material has the lightest weight, contributing significantly to lightweight designs. For instance, in comparison to the A60 fire-resistant partitions currently utilized domestically, the thickness and weight of microporous thermal insulation material used for fire-resistant partitions are much lower than traditional insulation materials, as shown in Table 1. This indicates a significant advantage in terms of space utilization and lightweight design for transportation vehicles.
Table 1: Comparison of Thickness and Weight of Insulation Layers Meeting A-60 Fire Protection
| Material | Thickness of Insulation Layers (mm) | Weight of Insulation Material per Unit Area（kg/m2） |
| Rock wool | 60 | 9.0 |
| Spray-applied Fire-resistant Fiber | 50 | 7.2 |
| Alkaline Earth Metal Silicate Fiber | 50 | 6.4 |
| Ceramic fiber bulk | 40 | 6.8 |
| Nano-porous Thermal Insulation Materials | 15 | 3.0 |
So, the nano-porous thermal insulation board demonstrates significantly superior performance compared to traditional insulation materials under high-temperature conditions. It not only plays the best role in thermal insulation and fire prevention in transportation vehicles but also offers a thin and lightweight solution, promoting fuel efficiency savings and simultaneously increasing passenger space. Coupled with its safety and environmentally friendly characteristics, it stands as an ideal upgraded substitute for conventional insulation materials.
For instance, using a nano-insulation blanket to wrap around the power battery pack serves multiple purposes. It greatly improves the decline in battery charging and discharging performance under cold weather conditions, aiding the stable and efficient operation of the battery thermal management system. Moreover, in the event of a fire outbreak within the battery pack, it effectively confines the fire within the battery pack, buying time for occupants to escape and safeguarding the integrity of other vehicle components. By employing nano-porous materials, it delivers outstanding thermal insulation and passive fire protection while achieving the lowest possible weight and thinnest thickness.
In European and American countries, the nano-porous passive fire protection system has been widely applied in many rail transit systems, including subways, trams, trains, and high-speed trains. The application areas include partition boards, structural walls, sliding doors, and other scenarios that require minimal fire insulation thickness to meet standards such as EU45545 and ASTM E119.
In Europe, there is a typical application case where 6mm thick nano-boards are installed under aluminum alloy flooring. After 30 minutes of intense flame exposure, the temperature rise in the floor structure does not exceed 70 degrees Celsius under normal conditions.
The U.S. Navy has adopted this insulation fireproof material on several submarines, high-speed boats, aircraft carriers, and large destroyers.
3.The Application of Nano-Porous Insulation Materials in Vehicle Exhaust System Heat Management
In gasoline and diesel engines, after fuel is burned in the engine, the exhaust gas is expelled from the engine to the exhaust manifold, then processed by the three-way catalytic converter into harmless exhaust and reduced in noise through a muffler. The temperature of the exhaust manifold is around 800 to 900 degrees, approximately 600 to 700 degrees after the primary catalytic converter, reducing to about 200 to 300 degrees in the middle section of the muffler, and approximately 150 degrees in the tail section of the muffler. The exhaust gas cooled by the muffler’s sound-absorbing panel is slightly higher than ambient temperature by 20 to 50 degrees.
To ensure the normal operating temperature and effectiveness of the three-way catalytic converter, prevent the impact of the exhaust pipe on surrounding components, and ensure passenger comfort, various components of the exhaust pipe system, including the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, exhaust pipe, and muffler, need to be insulated. Due to the outstanding insulation, high-temperature resistance, and non-flammability of nano-porous materials, they can effectively provide significant heat insulation and thermal management within the limited space of the exhaust pipe system.
Nano-porous insulation materials can be provided in the form of flexible profiles for the exhaust pipe system. The exhaust pipe can also be processed into a casing structure, utilizing flowable nano-porous particles filled within the irregular casing, forming an integrated, permanently efficient heat insulation layer. This approach avoids the later addition of insulating sleeves or wrapping insulating tapes onto the exhaust pipe, which is neither aesthetically pleasing nor long-lasting.
4.Improving the driving range and perceived comfort of pure electric vehicles
Improving the driving range of electric vehicles has been a critical focus in the development of future modern automobiles. Besides enhancing the performance of new energy batteries, Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs) based on nano-porous insulating materials serve as efficient and ultra-thin insulation components, significantly aiding in space-saving measures for both the vehicle body and the engine compartment.
Additionally, as the heating and air conditioning systems are also powered by the battery, thermal management solutions have a significant impact on the performance of the vehicle’s battery. By installing VIP insulation layers, the driving range of a vehicle can increase by up to 30%. Studies have shown that a certain brand of electric car without VIP insulation achieved a range of 130 kilometers at -15°C, which increased to 185 kilometers after the installation of VIP insulation.
Research indicates that using environmentally friendly VIP panels reduces the energy consumed by the battery for vehicle heating and air conditioning. This not only significantly enhances the energy efficiency and driving range of electric vehicles but also markedly improves the comfort of the vehicle’s interior climate. For instance, at an outdoor temperature of -20°C, the interior temperature of the vehicle increased from 20°C to 25°C. Similarly, at an outdoor temperature of 45°C, the interior temperature decreased from 36°C to 30°C.
5.Other Applications of Microporous Insulation Materials in Modern Transportation Vehicles
Nano-Porous Insulation Materials can also be used in air conditioning systems, heat shields, diesel vehicle exhaust filters, fuel cells, and flight data recorders.
