Harbin Institute of Technology’s technology commercialization breaks the international blockade on ultra-insulating materials
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Harbin Institute of Technology’s technological achievements have helped break the international blockade on super-insulating materials. According to 36Kr, Suzhou Elmer Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Elmer”) recently announced the completion of a series A financing round worth tens of millions of yuan. The investors were Nachuan Capital, Shaanxi Financial Holdings, Wuzhong Financial Holdings, and Suzhou Taiwang. The funds will be used primarily for product development and capacity expansion. 「Founded in August 2024, Elmer relies on Harbin Institute of Technology for the commercialization of its innovations. Its main product is a new type of flexible nanoceramic fiber super-insulating material, which boasts advantages in terms of insulation performance, thermal stability, flexibility, and light weight. This material can be applied in areas such as high-temperature furnaces, new energy batteries, and aerospace industries. 「The core technology of \"Elmer\" originates from the team led by Professor Xu Xiang at Harbin Institute of Technology. A R&D team comprising thousands of experts, top-tier young talents, and doctors has been established; the product portfolio is developed through independent innovation, and complete independent intellectual property rights are held, thereby breaking the international import monopoly on ultra-insulating materials. In the field of thermal equipment, intention orders worth tens of millions have been signed with leading companies. I. Overcoming the thermal-physical conflict issue to enhance the overall performance of ultra-insulating materials. Ultra-insulating materials are advanced materials that can maintain extremely high insulation performance even in extreme temperature conditions. Their key function is to prevent heat transfer to the greatest extent possible under conditions of ultra-high temperatures (above 1000°C), ultra-low temperatures, or severe thermal shocks, thereby protecting critical components or systems. The conflict between strength and thermal insulation is a common challenge for super-insulating materials. Simply put, high strength requirements dictate the presence of a dense and robust internal framework in the material, while effective thermal insulation relies on numerous nanoscale voids within it; it is difficult to satisfy both requirements simultaneously. In terms of material applications, traditional insulating materials such as aerogels generally suffer from issues like poor thermal stability, short lifespan, and low energy efficiency. 「\"Elmer\" – a new type of flexible nanoceramic fiber super-insulating material that achieves breakthroughs in both mechanical and thermal properties. “While we may not be the best in terms of any single performance attribute, the combination of flexibility, low thermal conductivity, durability, and light weight constitutes the unique features of our material. ”「Jiang Hui, the general manager of Elmer, used the 1400-type ceramic aerogel material as an example to illustrate how these properties lead to improved performance in applications: flexibility is reflected in the material’s ability to deform; in high-temperature environments, sealing is crucial, but areas such as edges and corners suffer from poor sealing due to the limitations of the material’s deformation capacity. 「The \"Elmer\" 1400 ceramic aerogel material allows for 95% compression, 50% tension, and 360° bending and twisting, which improves the sealing performance and makes it easier to control the temperature of the equipment, thereby increasing the yield of high-quality products. A low thermal conductivity implies excellent insulation properties. For example, in high-temperature furnaces used in thermal processing equipment, the surface temperature of the furnace gradually increases over time, and heat loss leads to a sharp rise in energy consumption. 「The thermal conductivity durability of the \"Elmer\" 1400 ceramic aerogel material at high temperatures of 1000°C determines the service life of this material. The \"Elmer\" 1400 ceramic aerogel material can be used at 1400°C for short periods of time, and at 1200°C for extended periods. While some products on the market have a service life measured in hours, ours is measured in years. Our operating temperature and duration are our absolute advantages. ”Jiang Hui summarized. In terms of weight reduction, the 1400-type ceramic aerogel material has a density of 10–100 mg/cm³; in fields such as aerospace where weight is a critical factor, it enables effective weight reduction while maintaining excellent insulating properties. https://p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-axegupay5k/dce90a47a2754b52acd03d09349b964b~tplv-tt-origin-web:gif.jpeg?_iz=58558&from=article.pc_detail&lk3s=953192f4&x-expires=1766243943&x-signature=9J1Nlsig4%2FH6XlXe9ixgrIpR%2FKo%3D「Elmer」new type of flexible nanoceramic fiber super-insulating material
Thanks to these advantages, “Elmer” has won numerous awards, including being named one of the first batch of leading technological talents in Jiangsu Province in 2025, the third prize at the national finals of the 10th “Maker China” competition for innovation and entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized enterprises, and the second prize in the startup category at the national competition on new materials within the 14th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. At present, the Elmer Type 1400 ceramic aerogel material has been validated by some customers and has entered the industrialization stage. The Type 1600 (operating at 1600°C) and Type 1800 (operating at 1800°C) products have completed their technical development phase, with ongoing efforts to optimize the manufacturing processes. Jiang Hui explained that, according to the plan, \"Elmer\" will focus on promoting the 1400 model in the next two years; once market penetration is achieved, it will gradually develop applications for the 1600 and 1800 models. II. Addressing the challenges related to cost reduction and efficiency improvement by focusing on three key areas to drive market transformation. Ultra-high thermal insulation materials with outstanding performance were first used in industries such as aerospace, with product performance being the primary consideration. To bring scientific and technological achievements to the commercial market, it is still necessary to improve overall competitiveness in terms of technology, price, and other factors. Jiang Hui believes that, unlike research work, the cycle of technological advancement is now short. Market customers do not merely seek the best performance in a single aspect; they also need solutions that fit their own product strategies, taking into account factors such as cost. Therefore, the transformation of research results must start from the needs of customers, with those results being tested in practical applications to enable industrialization. Regarding prices, Jiang Hui explained that using \"Elmer\" materials may result in costs that are 20%-30% higher than those of other materials. However, customers consider the long-term economic benefits; the improved performance of these materials helps to address the key issues of higher quality rates and reduced costs. For example: \"Our customers in the glass industry calculate the performance of thermal furnaces, and thanks to the increase in yield and reduced energy consumption, they can recoup the initial investment within half a year.\" The overall usage life of the product is estimated to be 4-5 years, so the long-term benefits are particularly significant for customers. ”
” 「In terms of market expansion for its \"Elmer\" production line, \"Elmer\" focuses on three main sectors: industrial thermal engineering, aerospace, and new energy, to pursue business opportunities in these areas. In the field of industrial thermal engineering, Elmer’s products are used in the high-temperature zones of industrial furnaces, replacing traditional insulation materials thereby reducing energy consumption and extending the lifespan of the furnaces. From the perspective of market conversion, thermal equipment has a short product validation cycle and lower precision compared to fields such as aerospace. As a preferred market for converting commercial orders, it has already partnered with leading companies in the industry to secure intent orders worth tens of millions. In the aerospace sector, the \"Elmer\" products have been used in the key safety components of certain types of propulsion systems, and they have passed relevant tests. These products enable a reduction in the weight of individual satellites by over 1 kg, thereby improving the performance of spacecraft. Future plans involve collaborating with aerospace research institutions and universities to provide materials for testing in new scenarios, thereby working together to improve the performance of the products. In the field of new energy, Elmer’s ultra-thin flexible sheets with a thickness of 1–2 mm can be used as thermal insulation and safety components for batteries in new energy vehicles. In the event of thermal runaway in the battery pack, these sheets can effectively prevent the spread of fire. Tests have shown that the open-flame is extinguished within 2 minutes after an explosion occurs in a soft-pack cell, with no burning or explosion occurring in adjacent cells. Focus will be placed on areas such as high-end power batteries and high-density aircraft batteries, to carry out product iteration and promotion. In July 2025, Elmer’s first production line was put into operation, with an annual production capacity of around 1,200 square meters and an output value of approximately 6 million yuan. The new production line is expected to go into operation next year, with its capacity reaching about five times that of the current one. With the improvement of production capacity and market expansion, \"Elmer\" is expected to achieve revenue in the tens of millions and positive profits by next year, and reach revenue in the hundreds of millions by 2027.
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