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Energies
Volume 18
Issue 16
10.3390/en18164232
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Long-Term Thermal Stability of Aerogel and Basalt Fiber Pipeline Insulation Under Simulated Atmospheric Aging

by
Irina Akhmetova
1,
Alexander Fedyukhin
2,
Anna Dontsova
3,
Umberto Berardi
4,
Olga Afanaseva
5,
Kamilya Gafiatullina
6,
Maksim Kraikov
6,
Darya Nemova
3,
Valeria Selicati
4 and
Roberto Stasi
4,*
1
Institute of Digital Technologies and Economics, Kazan State Power Engineering University, Kazan 420066, Russia
2
Institute of Energy Efficiency and Hydrogen Technologies, National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Moscow 111250, Russia
3
Laboratory of Protected and Modular Structures, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
4
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Design, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
5
Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
6
Institute of Atomic and Thermal Energy, Kazan State Power Engineering University, Kazan 420066, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(16), 4232; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164232
Submission received: 4 June 2025 / Revised: 18 July 2025 / Accepted: 28 July 2025 / Published: 8 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section G: Energy and Buildings)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Thermal insulation materials used in power and industrial systems must maintain high performance under extreme environmental conditions. Among such materials, aerogel and basalt fiber are widely applied due to their low thermal conductivity and ease of installation. However, over time, these materials are susceptible to degradation, which can significantly impair their insulating efficiency and increase energy losses. Despite their importance, the long-term behavior of these materials under realistic climatic stressors has not been analyzed enough. This study investigates the degradation of thermal insulation performance in aerogel and basalt fiber materials subjected to complex atmospheric stressors, simulating long-term outdoor exposure. Aerogel and basalt fiber mats were tested under accelerated aging conditions using an artificial weather chamber equipped with xenon lamps to replicate full-spectrum solar radiation, high humidity, and elevated temperatures. The results show that the thermal conductivity of aerogel remained stable, indicating excellent durability under environmental stress. In contrast, basalt fiber insulation exhibited a deterioration in thermal performance, with a 9–11% increase in thermal conductivity, corresponding to reduced thermal resistance. Computational modeling using COMSOL Multiphysics confirmed that aerogel insulation outperforms basalt fiber, especially at temperatures exceeding 200 °C, offering better heat retention with thinner layers. These findings suggest aerogel-based materials are more suitable for long-term thermal insulation of high-temperature pipelines and industrial equipment.
Keywords: aerogel; basalt fiber; thermal insulation; aging test; heat transfer; equivalent service life; district heating aerogel; basalt fiber; thermal insulation; aging test; heat transfer; equivalent service life; district heating

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MDPI and ACS Style

Akhmetova, I.; Fedyukhin, A.; Dontsova, A.; Berardi, U.; Afanaseva, O.; Gafiatullina, K.; Kraikov, M.; Nemova, D.; Selicati, V.; Stasi, R. Long-Term Thermal Stability of Aerogel and Basalt Fiber Pipeline Insulation Under Simulated Atmospheric Aging. Energies 2025, 18, 4232. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164232

AMA Style

Akhmetova I, Fedyukhin A, Dontsova A, Berardi U, Afanaseva O, Gafiatullina K, Kraikov M, Nemova D, Selicati V, Stasi R. Long-Term Thermal Stability of Aerogel and Basalt Fiber Pipeline Insulation Under Simulated Atmospheric Aging. Energies. 2025; 18(16):4232. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164232

Chicago/Turabian Style

Akhmetova, Irina, Alexander Fedyukhin, Anna Dontsova, Umberto Berardi, Olga Afanaseva, Kamilya Gafiatullina, Maksim Kraikov, Darya Nemova, Valeria Selicati, and Roberto Stasi. 2025. "Long-Term Thermal Stability of Aerogel and Basalt Fiber Pipeline Insulation Under Simulated Atmospheric Aging" Energies 18, no. 16: 4232. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164232

APA Style

Akhmetova, I., Fedyukhin, A., Dontsova, A., Berardi, U., Afanaseva, O., Gafiatullina, K., Kraikov, M., Nemova, D., Selicati, V., & Stasi, R. (2025). Long-Term Thermal Stability of Aerogel and Basalt Fiber Pipeline Insulation Under Simulated Atmospheric Aging. Energies, 18(16), 4232. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164232

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