Practical Ceramics: Affordable Microwave Thermos Bottle?

[jimbot]

The space shuttle had thousands of tiles that were close to the ultimate insulators. Has anyone gotten to the point where they're not $1000s a pound yet? I was wondering if anyone has created a thermos bottle that you could put in a microwave for a reasonable price. Why can't they spin off something useful from all those $ they spent on the shuttle?

 

[Gokul43201]

I can't see what's so useful about a thermos that can be put in a microwave. A good thermos shouldn't need to be put in a microwave, and if you want to heat up your coffee anyway, why carry it in a thermos ? Or maybe I'm just used to getting hot (albeit lousy) coffee from the vending machine.

I think I'm missing the point here...I don't see the relevance of the ceramic tiles.

 

[ravenprp]

It is certainly possible for practical ceramics to be used in creating an affordable microwave thermos bottle. The space shuttle tiles were made of a type of ceramic called silica tiles, which were designed to withstand extreme temperatures and act as insulators. While these tiles may be expensive due to their specialized use in space travel, there are other types of ceramics that can be more cost-effective and still provide similar properties.

In fact, there are already ceramic materials that are commonly used in microwave-safe dishes and containers. These materials are microwave-safe because they do not absorb microwaves and can withstand the heat generated by them. Therefore, it is not a stretch to imagine that these same materials could be used to create an affordable microwave thermos bottle.

As for why we have not seen more practical applications of ceramics from the space shuttle program, it is important to remember that the primary goal of the shuttle was to transport astronauts and cargo into space. While there have been some spin-off technologies developed from the program, such as improved insulation and fire-resistant materials, the focus was not on creating consumer products.

However, with advancements in technology and materials, it is certainly possible for practical ceramics to be used in a variety of everyday products, including a microwave thermos bottle. It may just be a matter of time and investment in research and development to make it a reality.