As part of a NEDO project, MINO CERAMIC CO., LTD., a member of the Thermal Management Materials and Technology Research Association (TherMAT), in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed a fiberless thermal insulator with high strength and low thermal conductivity that can be used at temperatures up to 1,450°C. The material also has a thermal conductivity of 0.25 W/m·K or less and a compressive strength of 10 MPa or more.

When the newly developed insulation material was installed in a small electric furnace for the measurement of electric energy consumption, the researchers verified that power consumption could be reduced by approximately 38% compared against the use of a conventional refractory and heat insulating brick.

The results of this project will be exhibited at the NEDO booth at "nano tech 2017 - 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference" to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from February 15 to February 17 this year.