HIGH PERFORMANCE VACUUM-SEALED INSULATIONS

1 . A method of preparing a structure comprising fully enclosing a flexible aerogel composite an envelope and sealing said aerogel composite at a reduced pressure.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said aerogel composite comprises at least one metal oxide matrix and a fibrous material incorporated therein,

optionally wherein said structure can bend to at least 90° with a bending radius of less than ½ inch.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the aerogel composite comprises at least one organic polymer; or

wherein an amount of at least one opacifying compound is incorporated in the aerogel composite.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein said organic polymer is chitosan, polymethyl methacrylate, a member of the acrylate family of oligomers, trialkoxysilylterminated polydimethylsiloxane, polyoxyalkylene, polyurethane, polybutadiene, a member of the polyether family of materials or combinations thereof.

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the metal oxide is silica, titania, zirconia, alumina, hafnia, yttria, ceria or combinations thereof, or

wherein the aerogel composite comprises nitrides, carbides or any combination thereof; or

wherein the fibrous material is in the form of a fibrous batting, a lofty batting, microfibers or a felt; or

wherein the fibrous material is based on polyester, silica, carbon or a combination thereof; or

wherein said fibrous material is coated with a polymeric or metallic compound.

6 . The method of claim 3 wherein the opacifying compound is B 4 C, Diatomite, Manganese ferrite, MnO, NiO, SnO, Ag 2 O, Bi 2 O 3 , TiC, WC, carbon black, titanium oxide, iron titanium oxide, zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide, iron (I) oxide, iron (III) oxide, manganese dioxide, iron titanium oxide (ilmenite), chromium oxide, silicon carbide, or mixtures thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least two plies of an aerogel composite are fully enclosed within the envelope; or

further comprising at least one layer of fibrous material, within the envelope; or

wherein the aerogel composite has a density between about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.40 g/cc or between about 0.07 g/cc to about 0.30 g/cc; or

wherein the thermal conductivity of the aerogel composite within said structure at pressures between about 760 torr and about 0.2 torr and between temperatures of about 20° C. and about −122° C. is between about 2.2 mW/mK and about 13.2 mW/mK; or

wherein the thermal conductivity of the aerogel composite within said structure at pressures between about 760 torr and about 0.2 torr and between temperatures of about 38° C. and about −130° C. is between about 2.85 mW/mK and about 12.7 mW/mK; or

wherein the flexural strength of the aerogel composite is 102 psi at rupture; or

wherein the envelope is a polymeric, optionally metallized, film; or

wherein the envelope is a mylar film.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said structure is in the shape of a box; or

wherein said structure is partially or completely bent around a pipeline; or

wherein the structure is in the shape of a panel.

9 . A structure comprising a flexible aerogel composite and a reinforcing component,

wherein said composite, or said composite and component, is fully enclosed by an envelope and sealed at reduced pressure.

10 . The structure of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing component is stainless steel, elemental metals such as copper or iron, and other metallic, semi-metallic and alloyed materials; or

wherein said reinforcing component is in the form of a mesh, a screen, or chicken-wire; or

wherein said reinforcing component is integrated into said composite; or

wherein said reinforcing component is fully enclosed and sealed at reduced pressure.

11 . A method of preparing a structure according to claim 9 , said method comprising fully enclosing said composite and/or reinforcing component in an envelope and sealing at reduced pressure.