TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: The opacifying compound is boron carbide (B4C), diatomite, manganese ferrite, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, tin oxide, silver oxide, bismuth oxide, titanium carbide, tungsten carbide, carbon black, titanium oxide, iron titanium oxide, zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide, iron (I) oxide, iron (III) oxide, manganese dioxide, iron titanium oxide (ilmenite), chromium oxide and/or silicon carbide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The aerogel comprises an organic, inorganic or hybrid organic-inorganic material, preferably silica, titania, zirconia, alumina, hafnia, yttria, ceria, carbides and/or nitride, urethane, resorcinol formaldehydes, polyimide, polyacrylate, chitosan, polymethyl methacrylate, components of acrylate of oligomer, trialkoxysilylterminated polydimethylsiloxane, polyoxyalkylene, polyurethane, polybutadiane, melamine-formaldehyde, phenol-furfural and/or polyether, or silica-PMMA, silica-chitosan and/or silica-polyether. The aerogel comprises opacifying compound.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Layer: The fibrous layer is coated on one side with a material comprising silicone, polyorganosiloxane, urethanes and/or acrylics. The fibrous layer is secured with an adhesive on at least two sides to a polymeric sheet. Preferred Composition: The polymeric sheet comprises polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, polyamid, aramid, polyethyleneterphthalate, low density polyethylene, ethylene-propylene co-polymers, poly(4-methyl-pentane), polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(1-butene), polystyrene, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidenechloride, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate, polyoxymethylene, polyphenylenesulfone, cellulosetriacetate, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycaprolactam, polyhexamethyleneadipamide, polyundecanoamide and polyimide. Preferred Properties: The thermal conductivity of the insulation structure is less than about 20 mW/mK, less than 19 mW/mK, less than about 18 mW/mK, less than about 17 mW/mK, less than about 16 mW/mK, less than about 15 mW/mK, less than about 14 mW/mK, less than about 13 mW/mK or less than about 12 mW/mK.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - TEXTILES AND PAPER - Preferred Composition: The fibrous layer comprises organic polymer-based fibers and/or inorganic fibers. The fibrous layer comprises fibers in a woven, non-woven, mat, felt, batting, lofty batting and/or chopped fibers.