Silica aerogel 250 ml
The discovery size
- 250 ml jar (8.5 fl oz)
- Ø 71 × 86.5 mm
€49.90 incl. VAT €199.60 per litre
Silica aerogel pieces
The world’s lightest solid fits in the palm of your hand
More than 99% air, translucent like a cloud and remarkably insulating: silica aerogel is the material that makes every generation say “wow”. Shipped from France within 24/48 h.
- Ships within 24/48 h
- Tracked Colissimo delivery
- Secure Stripe payment
- 14-day returns
Choose your aerogel jar
Two sizes, the same fascinating material: silica aerogel pieces of various sizes in a resealable clear jar.
Silica aerogel 500 ml
The large size, ideal for classrooms
- 500 ml jar (17 fl oz)
- Ø 71 × 159 mm
€79.90 incl. VAT €159.80 per litre
What makes aerogel unique
A solid that defies intuition: at first sight you think it is an illusion, once you touch it you understand the science.
Ultra-light
More than 99% of its volume is air: one of the lightest solids ever created.
Translucent
You can read through it, yet it scatters light like a frozen cloud.
Super-insulating
Its porous structure slows heat down: one of the best thermal insulators known.
Nanostructured
A silica network with pores a few tens of nanometres wide.
Non-toxic, non-flammable
Made of amorphous silica, it is safe to handle with a few simple precautions.
Nicknamed “frozen smoke”
Its misty look has earned it this nickname all over the world.
One material, two colours
Before your eyes, aerogel changes colour with the lighting. It is not a dye: the light itself is being sorted by its nanostructure.
In reflected light: blue
Against a dark background, the nanopores mainly send back short wavelengths: aerogel takes on the colour of the sky.
When backlit: amber
As the blue is scattered away, the light passing through becomes richer in red and yellow: aerogel glows like a sunset.
This is Rayleigh scattering, the phenomenon that makes the sky blue and sunsets orange. An optics experiment to do in class with a simple lamp.
Transparent… almost invisible
Place a piece of aerogel on text, a map or a grid: everything stays readable through this solid made of air.
Who is it for, what is it for?
From the classroom to the photo studio, aerogel belongs wherever people love to understand and amaze.
Teaching
Schools and universities: density, insulation, optics, materials science.
Experiments
Transparency, light scattering and thermal insulation tests.
Museums and exhibitions
A spectacular object for science workshops and science fairs.
Photo and video
Unique blue and amber light effects for your shoots.
Collecting
A rare piece for collectors of minerals and materials.
Original gift
The ideal gift for science lovers of all ages.
See it for real
A video is worth a thousand words: the lightness, transparency and amber glow of our silica aerogel pieces, filmed without any tricks.
- Real pieces, just as you will receive them
- 250 ml and 500 ml jars
- Transparency test on a grid and on a map
250 ml or 500 ml?
Same material, same quality: simply choose the quantity you need.
| Aerogel 250 ml | Aerogel 500 ml | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 250 ml (8.5 fl oz) | 500 ml (17 fl oz) |
| Jar (Ø × height) | Ø 71 × 86.5 mm | Ø 71 × 159 mm |
| Ideal for | Discovery, gifts, demonstrations | Classrooms, workshops, exhibitions |
| Price incl. VAT | €49.90 | €79.90 |
| Price per litre | €199.60 | €159.80 |
Ordering made simple
From your click to your letterbox, everything is designed to be fast and secure.
- 1
Choose your jar
250 ml to discover, 500 ml to teach or collect.
- 2
Pay securely
Credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, via Stripe.
- 3
We ship within 24/48 h
Your aerogel is carefully packed and handed to Colissimo.
- 4
Track your parcel
You receive the tracking number by e-mail as soon as it ships.
What is silica aerogel?
It is a solid made of more than 99% air, trapped in a nanoporous silica network. It is obtained by replacing the liquid in a silica gel with air without destroying its structure. It is one of the lightest materials in the world, translucent and an excellent thermal insulator.
Is aerogel dangerous?
No: silica aerogel is non-toxic and non-flammable. As with any fine powder, avoid swallowing it or breathing in its dust. Wearing gloves is recommended as it dries the skin; wash your hands after handling and keep it out of reach of young children.
Can you touch aerogel?
Yes, gently. It is very light but fragile: too much pressure makes it crumble. Handle it with clean, dry hands or gloves, and keep it away from water.
Why does aerogel look blue?
Its nanometric pores scatter blue light more strongly (Rayleigh scattering, as in the sky). Against a dark background it looks bluish; when backlit, the light passing through it turns amber.
How big are the pieces?
The pieces are natural fragments of various sizes, from small flakes up to several centimetres. Every jar is therefore unique. The quantity sold corresponds to the jar volume: 250 ml or 500 ml.
How should aerogel be stored?
Keep it in its tightly closed jar, in a dry place, protected from knocks. Water and humidity can damage its structure and transparency.
What are the delivery times and costs?
Orders ship within 24/48 working hours by tracked Colissimo. Costs are a flat rate per order depending on the country (France, Europe, USA and Canada) and are shown before payment: see our shipping and delivery page.
I am a teacher: can I order for my school?
Of course. You can pay online directly, or ask us for a quote for payment by invoice (purchase order, bank transfer) via the contact form, subject “Quote / institution”.
Silica aerogel, an exceptional material
Invented in 1931 by the American chemist Samuel Kistler, silica aerogel is made by replacing the liquid in a silica gel with air without its structure collapsing. The result is a porous solid in which more than 99% of the volume is air: one of the lightest materials ever made.
Its nanometric structure gives it unique properties: thermal insulation among the best in the world, high transparency, and a bluish colour caused by light scattering (Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon that colours the sky). NASA even used it to capture comet dust during the Stardust mission.
At Aerogel-Shop.com, we offer silica aerogel pieces in 250 ml or 500 ml jars for science teaching, experiments, photography and collecting. The site is run by VirtuaVia, a company based in Grenoble, France, founded in 2000.