'Solid smoke' material aerogel gets added strength (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Recent improvements to a type of material known as aerogel could lead to a new generation of highly insulating clothing, a major conference has heard.

Aerogels have been around for a long time, and have been described as "solid smoke" because they are so light.

But these traditional types - made from silica - are fragile and brittle.

By altering the composition and structure of these materials, scientists have now produced aerogels that are hundreds of times stronger.

The advances were described at the 244th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19323091

[salvorhardin]

1. The emperor's new clothes will be made of sand