With the increasing demand for building energy conservation and high-performance insulation, aerogel materials, due to their extremely low thermal conductivity and excellent temperature resistance, are gradually being applied in the construction, industrial, and new energy fields. Depending on their structure and processing methods, aerogels can be categorized into various forms, including aerogel felts, aerogel boards, aerogel particles, and composite aerogel products. Among these, aerogel felts have garnered significant attention in engineering applications. This article will compare and analyze aerogel felts with other forms of aerogel in terms of material structure, performance characteristics, and application scenarios.

Firstly, there are significant differences in their structural morphology. Aerogel felts are typically composed of silica aerogel combined with flexible reinforcing materials such as glass fiber and ceramic fiber, exhibiting a soft, rollable felt-like structure with good flexibility. Aerogel boards, on the other hand, are mostly rigid or semi-rigid structures, with stable morphology but relatively limited processability; aerogel particles exist in bulk or as fillers, mainly relying on other substrates or structures for fixation.

In terms of construction adaptability, aerogel felts have a more prominent advantage. Due to its flexibility and high cutability, aerogel can adapt to complex curved surfaces, irregular equipment, and space-constrained areas, resulting in high construction efficiency. In contrast, aerogel boards are more suitable for flat areas or standardized components, requiring higher construction precision; aerogel particles are mostly used in sandwich fillings or special composite systems, with stricter requirements for construction techniques and sealing.

From a comprehensive performance perspective, different forms of aerogel have their own strengths. Aerogel felt, while maintaining a low thermal conductivity, also offers vibration resistance, tear resistance, and a certain level of mechanical strength, making it suitable for engineering environments with high durability requirements. Aerogel boards excel in dimensional stability and compressive strength, making them suitable for applications with high load-bearing requirements. Aerogel particles have advantages in filling and design flexibility, but the overall system performance is more dependent on the supporting structure.

In terms of application areas, aerogel felt is widely used in industrial pipelines, storage tanks, high-temperature equipment, and thin-layer building insulation systems, especially suitable for projects with limited insulation thickness. Aerogel boards are commonly found in building envelopes, prefabricated walls, or equipment insulation components. Aerogel particles are more commonly used in specialty insulation mortars, composite insulation materials, or scientific research.

From a cost and overall project benefit perspective, aerogel felt is generally more expensive than traditional insulation materials. However, its thin-layer high efficiency, convenient construction, and low maintenance costs make it a cost-effective option for specific projects. Other forms of aerogel also have their advantages under different application conditions, requiring rational selection based on actual needs.

In general, there is no simple superiority or inferiority between aerogel felt and other forms of aerogel; rather, they are differentiated for different project requirements. In the actual selection of building insulation materials, factors such as the usage environment, construction conditions, performance indicators, and total life-cycle cost should be comprehensively considered to select the aerogel product form that best suits the project's needs, achieving a balance between insulation performance and project value.