noun
- extremely lightweight solid materials with very low density, created by replacing the liquid in a gel with gas
Usage: scientific; materials science
Examples
- Aerogels are among the lightest solid materials known to science.
- NASA uses aerogels to capture space dust particles.
- The translucent aerogels looked like solidified air.
- Silica aerogels can be up to 99.8% air by volume.
- Researchers developed new aerogels for thermal insulation.
- The aerogels felt surprisingly solid despite their ghostly appearance.