Select from our premium catalog engineered for extreme temperature boundaries and maritime applications.
The global shipping industry stands at a critical juncture. Under the pressure of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, naval architects, shipbuilders, and operators must find innovative ways to minimize heat transfer, maximize cargo space, and lower carbon footprints. Historically, insulation on commercial vessels, cruise lines, LNG carriers, and offshore rigs relied on bulky materials like mineral wool, fiberglass, or thick polyurethane (PU) foam. However, the space-energy paradigm has fundamentally changed. Today, Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) present the most advanced thermal barrier technology available, and Zerothermo Technology stands at the forefront of this industrial shift.
A Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) operates on the physical principle of minimizing heat transfer by removing gaseous conduction. Because gaseous conduction contributes up to 60-70% of a material’s thermal conductivity, evacuating the inner core of a high-barrier envelope yields thermal performance that is five to ten times superior to traditional insulators. While standard mineral wool exhibits a thermal conductivity ($\lambda$-value) of approximately 0.035 to 0.040 W/m·K, Zerothermo's Fumed Silica Vacuum Insulation Panels achieve an extraordinary $\lambda$-value of $\le$ 0.0045 W/m·K at room temperature.
For shipyards, this means achieving equivalent thermal protection with only a fraction of the insulation thickness. Reducing insulation thickness from 150mm (using mineral wool) to just 20mm (using VIPs) frees up massive volumes of interior space. This space saving directly translates to expanded cargo hold volume, optimized living quarters in luxury vessels, and reduced structural weight, leading to enhanced fuel efficiency and a lower Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) rating.
| Thermal Insulation Material | Typical Thickness (mm) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | Space Requirement Ratio | Fire Safety Rating (EN 13501) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zerothermo Fumed Silica VIP | 15 - 25 mm | 0.004 - 0.005 | 1.0 (Baseline) | Class A (Non-combustible core) |
| Polyurethane (PU) Foam | 80 - 100 mm | 0.022 - 0.026 | 4.5x Space Required | Class B / E (Flame Retardant dependent) |
| Mineral / Rock Wool | 120 - 150 mm | 0.035 - 0.042 | 7.0x Space Required | Class A1 (Non-combustible) |
| Aerogel Insulation Blankets | 40 - 60 mm | 0.015 - 0.018 | 2.5x Space Required | Class A2 / B |
Marine insulation is no longer just about preventing condensation or keeping the crew comfortable; it is now a critical element of global maritime sustainability strategy. Shipping companies are investing heavily in retrofitting fleets to meet modern efficiency parameters. For instance, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquid hydrogen (LH2), and ammonia carriers demand state-of-the-art cryogenic insulation. Any heat ingress to the cargo tank causes boil-off gas (BOG), which must be reliquefied or combusted, impacting profitability and environmental compliance.
Zerothermo's vacuum insulation solutions offer specialized high-barrier linings that can withstand cryogenic environments without degrading. By controlling cargo tank temperature with high-density fumed silica VIP core structures, shipping companies save millions of dollars in gas recovery costs annually. Similarly, in refrigerated transport containers (reefer containers) and cargo holds, replacing PU foam panels with VIPs increases internal volume by 15% to 25%, drastically boosting cargo capacity per journey.
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View More +Zerothermo Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of CBVAC Group and a national high-tech enterprise, is headquartered in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area with its production base located in Nanchong City, Sichuan Province. This facility stands as one of China's largest comprehensive production centers for vacuum technology application products.
Through rigorous material science research and advanced vacuum manufacturing technology, we produce ultra-thin, low-conductivity vacuum insulation panels and custom system configurations designed to withstand harsh maritime and industrial environments.
Custom dimensions tailored to project specifications.
Special designs for complex geometric configurations.
Manufactured to strict technical parameters.
Unparalleled standards under ISO 9001 and CE certification frameworks ensure zero-leakage, long-term vacuum stability.
Swift execution of non-standard geometries, custom dimensions, and specific surface finishing to fit challenging ship structures.
Our industrialized production lines secure reliable supply for global shipbuilding scales without compromising performance.
Securing international shipments with specialized transit packaging to prevent mechanical puncture and maintain panel integrity.
Offering deep lifecycle support, expert engineering reviews, and verified thermal performance guarantees for marine deployment.
The manufacturing process of Zerothermo's Vacuum Insulation Panels combines precise chemistry and state-of-the-art physics. The core material is constructed from amorphous silica (fumed silica) mixed with opacifiers to suppress infrared radiation at elevated temperatures. Unlike polyurethane, which decays thermally and can outgas over time, fumed silica is inorganic, non-combustible, and exceptionally stable across deep-freeze cryogenic temperatures to localized thermal peaks.
To retain the vacuum, the core is encapsulated in a multi-layered high-barrier metallized plastic laminate film. Under extreme vacuum pressures ($\le$ 1 mbar), the film is heat-sealed to prevent air ingress. Over a projected operational lifetime of 50 years, the gradual increase in internal pressure is calculated at less than 1.5 mbar per decade, ensuring thermal performance remains virtually unchanged over the vessel's operational lifecycle.
Naval architects require rigid adherence to international codes. Our VIP products undergo strict validation procedures to comply with maritime safety standards:
While the initial cost of vacuum insulation panels exceeds traditional glass wool, the total life-cycle savings are significant. For example, on a 15,000 TEU container ship, retrofitting cold storage boundaries with Zerothermo VIPs saves energy, lowers refrigerant compression wear, and unlocks more cubic meters of cargo area. The payback period is typically achieved within the first 14 to 18 months of open-sea routing.
Providing high-efficiency thermal insulation solutions for cold chain packaging systems to safeguard medicine and vaccine logistics.
Empowering the construction sector to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality with ultra-thin wall insulation.
Thermal management solutions for specialized processing furnaces, high-heat pipelines, and marine engine compartments.
Enabling smart architectural concepts and eco-friendly structures that require low footprint high-efficiency insulating glass and VIP systems.
Driving the development of high-efficiency thermal systems while promoting sustainable industrial advancement.
Here are detailed answers to frequently asked engineering and procurement questions regarding our Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) and high-temperature thermal barriers.
Zerothermo's Fumed Silica Vacuum Insulation Panels feature an exceptionally low thermal conductivity, measuring $\le$ 0.0045 W/m·K at room temperature. This is significantly more effective than traditional polyurethane foam ($\approx$ 0.022 W/m·K) and mineral wool ($\approx$ 0.038 W/m·K), allowing you to achieve the same or better thermal resistance with up to 90% less insulation thickness.
Our marine-grade VIPs are manufactured with robust, high-strength core materials that resist settlement and degradation under constant marine hull vibration. The external multi-barrier envelope is designed to repel moisture. When integrated within protective structural layers or double-wall systems, they are fully protected against mechanical puncture and exposure to bilge water.
No. Because VIPs rely on a core vacuum environment, they cannot be cut, drilled, or shaped on-site. Puncturing the outer envelope will release the vacuum, causing the thermal conductivity to rise to that of non-evacuated fumed silica ($\approx$ 0.020 W/m·K). Therefore, we collaborate closely with naval architects during the design phase to manufacture every panel to exact structural dimensions.
Under recommended application conditions, Zerothermo VIPs are designed to maintain their thermal performance for over 50 years. The choice of fumed silica as the core material, combined with our advanced multi-layered high-barrier envelope and getter systems, keeps internal pressure increase to a minimum over decades of service.
The core material of our standard VIPs consists of fumed silica and inorganic opacifiers, which are inherently non-combustible. The panels do not support flame spread or generate toxic gases. When integrated into typical marine bulkheads and wall assemblies, they comply with Class A non-combustibility criteria under standard international fire test methods.
Explore our high-performance thermal insulation solutions designed for cold chain systems and specialized wall panel constructions.
We offer a one-stop vacuum insulation board solution. Reach out to our engineering support group for custom pricing, thermal performance mockups, and layout integration details.
