NOVELTY - The heat insulating material is a compact of a blend of fine particles and fiber material containing dry-type silica fine particles, inorganic fiber, and electroconductive fine particles. The surface layer (7a) of the heat insulating material has a density larger than that of the internal layer (7b).    USE - As heat retention or interruption material in industrial installations, building materials, vehicles, business machines, fuel cell systems, heat retention refrigeration devices, printers, hot-water supply apparatuses, and in manufacture of vacuum heat insulating material (all claimed), and for industrial furnaces, semiconductor manufacture installations, personal computers, copiers, notebook computers, housing components, rice cookers, dishwashing driers, electric water heaters, heat fixing roller for electrophotographic systems, automatic vending machines, and liquid-crystal portions of car navigation systems.    ADVANTAGE - The heat insulating material has excellent heat insulating property, strength, handleability, and surface smoothness, low density, and large heat insulation area. The heat insulating material suppresses energy loss by heat radiation, and prevents powder omission, fold, and curvature.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The surface layer contains a binder component containing starch. The inorganic fiber is glass fiber, and the electroconductive fine particles are powder-form carbon. The face material of the heat insulating material is a non-woven fabric, preferably a non-woven glass fabric.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) industrial installation;    (2) building materials;    (3) vehicle;    (4) business machine;    (5) fuel cell system;    (6) heat retention refrigeration device;    (7) apparatus having a heat generating component;    (8) manufacture of heat insulating material; and    (9) manufacture of vacuum heat insulating material (4).    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the sectional drawing of the heat insulating material. (Drawing includes non-English language text).    vacuum heat insulating material (4)    core material (5)    coating material (6)    surface layer (7a)    internal layer (7b)