The AeroFurnace research project is now developing a new composite material based on nanoporous carbons that could more than double the thermal insulation effect compared to previous materials. This could significantly reduce the energy requirements of special high-temperature furnaces. The thermal insulation does not have to be thicker, which would reduce the useful volume. Felt-based carbon materials are currently used at these high temperatures under oxygen-free conditions.
Thermal insulation materials in blast furnaces must be able to withstand the extreme heat without any problems. Up to now, this has only been possible with insulation materials that also have a rather high thermal conductivity, i.e. they tend to release heat. This is bad for energy efficiency. The team of scientists is therefore focusing on a specific group of materials: carbon aerogels, whose thermal conductivity is particularly low. Aerogels can be made from various materials such as silicates, metals and their oxides, polymers, biopolymers and carbonates. They are so porous that they consist of more than 90 % air or free space. This makes them particularly light. They have a low density, a high internal surface area and low thermal conductivity and can help to conserve natural resources such as energy from natural gas and crude oil.
The carbon aerogels used in the AeroFurnace project have yet another advantage. Their finely divided carbon structure largely absorbs thermal radiation, which is mainly responsible for transporting heat at high temperatures. They can be used, for example, as superinsulation materials in particularly demanding areas such as the automotive industry or high-temperature applications.
