Research & Development

Despite the significant strides that we have made in advancing the science and application of aerogels, we have really only just begun.

We maintain a full and rapidly growing cadre of R&D scientists, applications development engineers and product development specialists dedicated to solving the challenges and addressing the severe service environments of our customers.

While our initial technology and product development programs were conducted in a small facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, we have recently expanded into a new 110,000 square foot building a few miles away in Northborough, Massachusetts.

This facility includes over 10,000 square feet of new customized laboratory space which allows us to conduct the sophisticated experiments and harsh exposure conditions needed to extend the range of our existing materials and develop alternative forms of aerogels.

Analytical capabilities include:

• Determination of surface area, pore size and pore size distribution.
• Determination of particle size and particle size distribution.
• Measurement of Thermal Conductivity up to 500°C
• Thermal Stability by Simultaneous TGA/DSC/MS
• Compositional analysis by GC/MS and a variety of spectral techniques.
• Molecular Weight Determinations by GPC.
• Various mechanical and physical testing apparatus.

Beyond the ability to fully analyze and characterize our materials, this new facility also provides the ability to manufacture lab to pilot scale quantities of new materials, allowing us to bring promising new developments to near plant scale within the same operating space. From here, it’s just a short walk down the hall to our adjacent manufacturing facility where these new materials and technologies can quickly be brought to plant scale, and then to market.

Having this full suite of capabilities clustered together in one location will allow us to easily:

• Extend the range and capabilities of our flexible aerogel blankets.
• Produce aerogels using materials other than silica
• Prepare and Produce Pilot Scale Quantities of Aerogel Powders
• Prepare and Produce Pilot Scale Quantities of Aerogel Beads
• Prepare and Produce Translucent and Transparent Aerogel Monolith

These facilities and capabilities can also be made available for custom product development and contract research.