Frequently Asked Questions
Solarcore®
Aerogels are a class of synthetic porous ultralight material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component for the gel has been replaced with a gas, without significant collapse of the gel structure. Aerogels have a porous solid network that contains air pockets, with the air pockets taking up the majority of space within the material. The result is a solid with extremely low density and extremely low thermal conductivity, exhibiting between 90 and 99.8% porosity.
Sc_Foam
Sc_Foam is a proprietary thin, low density, soft and flexible insulation that delivers enhanced thermal performance. The base is a closed cell foam, embedded with silica aerogel particles embedded within the foam matrix for thermal performance. Sc_Foam is 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm & 10 mm for Sc_Foam Non-Perforated and 2 mm & 3 mm available in Sc_Foam Breathable (Perforated)
Sc_Foam has best-in-class thermal conductivity value when we compared to other insulations.
Sc_Foam maintains its low thermal conductivity under compression unlike many other lofted insulations that lose their insulation properties when compressed.
Sc_Foam is flexible and maintains an ultra-thin profile when we compare it to other insulations.
Sc_Foam Breathable is utilized mostly for Apparel and Accessories, as the perforations help to pass moisture vapor from the interior (close to skin) to exterior. However, it is not limited to these applications.
Sc_Foam Non- Perforated is utilized mostly for other applications including Footwear, Medical Containers, Shelters, etc. However, it is not limited to these applications.
32.6 mW/m K
*What is Thermal Conductivity?
Thermal Conductivity is defined as the ability to transmit heat through a material, per degree kelvin (Irrelevant of thickness). A lower thermal conductivity is better when describing insulation, because the material conducts less heat energy. Thermal conductivity is an intrinsic property, irrelevant to thickness.
4.42 R-Value/inch (normalized = per inch)
*What is R-Value?
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance, used commonly in footwear and buildings. The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. When comparing R-Value be sure to compare the Normalized R-Value (per inch) or compare values of the same thickness.
5.03 CLO/inch
*What is CLO Value?
CLO Value is a measure of thermal resistance, used commonly in the textile industry for clothing. It is defined as the amount of insulation required to keep a resting person comfortable in a normally ventilated room at a temperature of 21°C / 70°F. A CLO value of 1 means an average adult can maintain thermal equilibrium in an environment at 21 °C. The thermal performance of the insulation increases with the CLO value meaning the higher the CLO value, the better the insulation.
Sc_Foam 2 mm outperforms tested leading apparel insulations by an average of 65.5% CLO Value. See graph here for more details!
Sc_Foam 3 mm outperforms tested leading apparel insulations by an average of 146.1% CLO Value. See graph here for more details!
Sc_Foam outperforms tested leading foam by an average of 26.5% thermal conductivity.
See graph here for more details!
Sc_Foam_US
Sc_Foam_US is a proprietary thin, low-density, soft, and flexible insulation that delivers enhanced thermal performance. The base is a closed-cell foam with silica aerogel particles embedded within the foam matrix. Sc_Foam_US is available as thin as 3 mm.
Sc_Foam_US has best-in-class thermal conductivity value when compared to other insulations. Sc_Foam_US maintains its low thermal conductivity under compression, unlike many other lofted insulations that lose their insulation properties when compressed. Sc_Foam_US is flexible and maintains an ultra-thin profile when compared to other insulations.
33.7 mW/mK
*What is Thermal Conductivity?
Thermal Conductivity is defined as the ability to transmit heat through a material, per degree kelvin (irrelevant of thickness). A lower thermal conductivity is better when describing insulation because the material conducts less heat energy. Thermal conductivity is an intrinsic property, irrelevant to thickness.
Yes, Sc_Foam_US is manufactured in the United States of America and is compliant with the Berry Amendment. The Berry Amendment requires particular types of organizations, including government, to purchase certain products from manufacturing sources in the U.S. exclusively. These organizations may include custom sewing contractors, among others. Both general and subcontractors are subject to the terms of the Berry Amendment. For more information visit https://www.trade.gov/berry-amendment.
4.28 R-value/inch (normalized = per inch)
*What is R-value?
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance, used commonly in footwear and buildings. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density. When comparing the R-value be sure to compare the Normalized R-value (per inch) or compare values of the same thickness.
4.86 CLO/inch?
*What is CLO Value?
CLO Value is a measure of thermal resistance, used commonly in the textile industry for clothing. It is defined as the amount of insulation required to keep a resting person comfortable in a normally ventilated room at a temperature of 21°C / 70°F. A CLO value of 1 means an average adult can maintain thermal equilibrium in an environment at 21 °C. The thermal performance of the insulation increases with the CLO value meaning the higher the CLO value, the better the insulation.
Sc_Foam_US outperform tested leading cold weather footwear insulations by an average of 50.7% R Value. See the graph below for more details!
Solarcore Labs ASTM-C518 under a load of 0.31 psi, August 28, 2023
Sc_Foam_US outperforms tested leading glove insulations by an average of 20.6% thermal conductivity. See the graph below for more details!
Solarcore Labs ASTM-C518 under a load of 0.31 psi, August 28, 2023