ISRO's New Light-As-Air Gel Can Keep Indian Soldiers Warm In Siachen Snow

Thiruvananthapuram: Scientists at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India's premier rocket lab recently manufactured the world's lightest material called silica aerogel or 'blue air.'

This material, scientists say, has excellent thermal resistance and if used as a filler in soldiers' uniforms it can possibly help save many lives at the Siachen glacier.

The material has uses both in space and on Earth.

So light weight that it can be delicately placed on a flower head, ISRO has made the world's lightest known material, sometimes also called 'frozen smoke.' Scientists hope it can be used to insulate rocket engines.
 Dr K Sivan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre told NDTV, "It is the world's lightest synthetic material made by man. It is a highly guarded technology. We have indigenously made it in India. It is used for insulating the rocket's surface."

But, the uses extended beyond rocket insulations. "It has applications for thermal jacket, foot insoles, as well as for window glazing. It is extremely useful for people working in very cold environments, in a very strategic way," Dr Sivan added.

Turned into fabric, this aerogel could have possibly saved Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad and his fellow soldiers' lives when they were buried under an ice wall at the Siachen Glacier in February.

Frozen smoke can be used to make light weight clothing, if painted on windows it can keep buildings cool or warm. The matrix of aerogel is made up of 99 per cent air. The material is likely to be used on India's moon rover in Chandryaan-2 mission.  

The material is still very fragile and brittle and scientists at the space centre are still finding ways to make it tough and resilient. Silica Aerogel is the lightest synthetic material ever made by man.