Zhejiang Runhui New Materials Co., Ltd.
Company Overview
Founded in 2010, Zhejiang Runhui New Materials Co., Ltd. has established itself as a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-performance insulation materials in China. Headquartered in the Longyou Economic Development Zone of Zhejiang Province, the company specializes in the research, development, and production of special functional papers and aerogel insulation materials. Leveraging partnerships with academic institutions, Runhui has built a reputation for translating nanoscale research into industrial-grade solutions.
The company operates the largest aerogel blanket production facility in East China, spanning 30,000 square meters with automated wet-laid and dry-lamination production lines. These facilities enable an annual output capacity of 6 million square meters of aerogel blankets, supported by a vertically integrated supply chain-from silica precursor synthesis to finished product testing. With a workforce of 220 employees, Runhui dedicates 12% of its annual revenue to innovation, resulting in 45 invention patents and 82 utility models as of 2025.
Global Market Presence
Export Network: Products distributed in 58 countries across six continents, with major markets in North America (22% of exports), Europe (18%), and Southeast Asia (25%).
Key Clients: Collaborates with Siemens Energy, Tesla, and Saudi Aramco, providing customized insulation solutions for critical infrastructure projects.
Quality Assurance: Maintains a dedicated testing laboratory accredited to CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment), ensuring compliance with international standards throughout the production lifecycle.
Aerogel Insulation Blanket
Nanostructure and Material Composition
Runhui's Aerogel Insulation Blanket is a nanocomposite material composed of 95% silica aerogel and 5% reinforcing inorganic fibers (glass or ceramic). The silica aerogel matrix features a three-dimensional nanoporous network with pore diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nanometers-smaller than the mean free path of air molecules (70 nm at sea level), effectively suppressing convective heat transfer. The reinforcing fibers enhance mechanical integrity, enabling the material to withstand tensile stresses up to 2.5 MPa while maintaining flexibility down to -196°C.
Sol-Gel Synthesis: Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is hydrolyzed to form silica nanoparticles in a controlled aqueous solution, creating a gel with uniform particle distribution.
Supercritical Drying: The gel is subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide drying at 31°C and 7.38 MPa, a process that removes solvent without collapsing the nanoporous structure-critical for preserving the material's ultra-low density (120–280 kg/m³) and high porosity (90–95%).
Fiber Integration: Inorganic fibers are embedded during the gelation stage, forming a composite that balances thermal performance with mechanical durability.
Product Grades and Customization
Runhui offers four primary product variants to address diverse industrial needs:
Standard Grade: Designed for general industrial insulation (1–5 mm thickness), suitable for temperatures ranging from -50°C to +300°C.
High-Temperature Grade: Reinforced with ceramic fibers to withstand continuous use at +650°C (3–10 mm thickness), ideal for furnace linings and power plant pipelines.
Hydrophobic Grade: Surface-treated with alkylsilanes to achieve a water contact angle >120°, reducing water absorption to <0.3%-critical for offshore and marine applications.
Ultra-Thin Grade: Engineered for space-constrained environments (0.5–1 mm thickness), used in aerospace avionics and wearable thermal devices.
Optional enhancements have aluminum foil lamination for radiant heat reflection, silicone coatings for UV resistance, and pressure-sensitive adhesive backing for simplified installation on curved surfaces.
Solving Complex Thermal Challenges
In liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, maintaining temperatures at -162°C requires insulations that minimize boil-off and resist moisture ingress. Runhui's Aerogel Insulation Blanket, when applied as a secondary insulation layer in LNG storage tanks, reduce heat flux by 35% compared to traditional perlite powder. This technology was deployed in a 2024 expansion project at the Qatari Ras Laffan terminal, where 80,000 m² of 12 mm aerogel blankets reduced annual LNG evaporation by 1.2%, translating to millions of dollars in fuel savings.
In steel manufacturing, reheating furnaces operate at 1,200°C, requiring insulations that balance heat retention with lightweight design. Runhui's high-temperature grade blankets, used as an inner lining in furnace doors, achieve a thermal conductivity of 0.018 W/m·K at 600°C-25% more efficient than calcium silicate boards. A 2025 case study at a Baosteel facility showed that replacing conventional insulation with aerogel blankets reduced furnace heat loss by 20%, enabling faster temperature stabilization and a 15% reduction in natural gas consumption.
Building and Construction Innovations
In energy-efficient buildings, Runhui's 8 mm aerogel blankets provide a thermal resistance (R-value) of 5.3 m²·K/W-equivalent to 100 mm of expanded polystyrene (EPS) but with a 70% thinner profile. This allows architects to design walls with higher thermal performance without sacrificing interior space, as demonstrated in a 2024 passive house project in Munich, Germany. The blankets' vapor permeability (<0.1 ng/(Pa·m·s)) also prevents condensation in cold climates, eliminating mold risks common with traditional rigid foams.
In skyscraper construction, fire safety and weight reduction are paramount. Runhui's 5 mm aerogel blankets, when installed between steel beams, achieve a fire resistance rating of 120 minutes (EN 1363-1), delaying structural collapse during fires. Their lightweight design reduces the load on building foundations by 60% compared to cementitious fireproofing, a critical advantage in seismic zones. This technology was adopted in the 600-meter Wuhan Greenland Center, where 50,000 m² of aerogel blankets enhanced both fire safety and structural efficiency.
In electric vehicle (EV) battery packs, thermal runaway prevention is critical. Runhui's 3 mm ultra-thin blankets, placed between lithium-ion cells, create a thermal barrier that delays temperature propagation at a rate of 0.3°C per second-significantly slower than conventional mica sheets (1.2°C per second). This performance was validated in 2025 by a major European automaker, which integrated the blankets into its battery packs, achieving a 40% improvement in thermal runaway response time while reducing pack weight by 20 kg.
For aircraft and satellites, where every gram of weight impacts fuel efficiency, Runhui's 0.8 mm aerogel blankets insulate cryogenic fuel tanks and electronic components. In a 2024 collaboration with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the blankets were used in the C919 regional jet's avionics bay, withstanding temperature fluctuations from -55°C (cruising altitude) to +85°C (engine proximity) without degradation. Their flexibility also allows conformable installation around complex avionics geometries, a challenge for rigid ceramic insulators.
Engineering at the Nanoscale
The superior performance of aerogel blankets stems from three nanoscale heat transfer barriers:
Conductive Suppression: The silica skeleton's low solid-phase conductivity (0.01 W/m·K) is further minimized by the air-filled pores, which account for over 90% of the material's volume.
Convective Blockade: Nanopore sizes smaller than the mean free path of air molecules prevent convective currents, effectively "trapping" air at the nanoscale.
Radiative Scattering: The amorphous silica structure scatters infrared radiation in the 2–20 μm wavelength range, reducing radiative heat transfer by 85% at 500°C.
Flexibility: Maintains 90% of thermal performance after 10,000 cycles of bending to 90°, outperforming fiberglass (which loses 30% performance after 1,000 cycles).
Abrasion Resistance: Passes 1,000 cycles of Taber abrasion testing (ASTM D4060) with <5% mass loss, suitable for high-movement industrial environments.
Chemical Stability: Unaffected by prolonged exposure to 10% sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide, making it suitable for chemical processing plants.
Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance
Runhui prioritizes sustainable manufacturing through:
Resource Efficiency: 92% of production waste (silica byproducts and fiber trimmings) is recycled into new formulations, reducing raw material consumption.
Low Carbon Footprint: Solar panels and waste heat recovery systems supply 30% of the company's energy needs, cutting CO₂ emissions by 4,000 metric tons annually.
Non-Toxic Formulations: All products are free of ozone-depleting substances and heavy metals, compliant with EU RoHS 3.0 and REACH regulations.
International Standards and Certifications
Quality Management: ISO 9001:2015 certification ensures consistent product performance across global supply chains.
Environmental Compliance: ISO 14001:2015 accreditation reflects commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices.
Industry-Specific Approvals: Meets marine standards (IMO MSC.307(88)), automotive flammability requirements (FMVSS 302), and building codes (U.S. ICC-ES AC387).
Future Innovations and Market Outlook
Runhui's R&D pipeline focuses on next-generation solutions:
Graphene Oxide Hybridization: Enhancing thermal conductivity to 0.011 W/m·K for high-heat dissipation in data centers.
Biodegradable Binders: Developing plant-based binding agents to create fully recyclable aerogel blankets, targeting the sustainable packaging sector.
Smart Thermal Layers: Integrating phase change materials with aerogel to create adaptive insulation that responds to ambient temperature changes, ideal for renewable energy storage systems.
The global aerogel insulation market, valued at USD 1.9 billion in 2025, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% through 2033, driven by:
Energy Efficiency Mandates: Stringent building codes in China (GB 55015-2021) and the EU (EPBD recast) requiring U-values <0.15 W/m²·K, creating demand for thin, high-performance insulations.
EV and Battery Storage Growth: The electric vehicle market's expansion is expected to drive a 300% increase in demand for battery thermal management materials by 2028.
Industrial Decarbonization: Heavy industries aim to reduce energy waste through advanced insulations, with aerogel blankets poised to capture 25% of the industrial insulation market by 2030.
Runhui plans to expand its global footprint with new manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Poland by 2027, targeting a 25% share of the Asia-Pacific aerogel blanket market and 15% in Europe.
The Next Generation of Thermal Insulation
Aerogel insulation blankets represent a transformative leap in materials science, enabling unprecedented thermal efficiency in a lightweight, flexible form. Zhejiang Runhui's leadership in developing these solutions highlights the fusion of nanotechnology with industrial pragmatism, addressing critical challenges in energy, construction, and transportation.