aerographite

What they mean is that a vacuum-filled cubic cm of aerographite is lighter than a cubic cm of air.

Since aerographite doesn't do that (it would just collapse under the pressure) there is absolutely no point in filling a blimp with aerographite.

I'm pretty sure aerographite is porous, and the numbers you're quoting don't count the mass of the air permeating the aerographite.

A partial vacuum will have to be created inside the aerographite structure without crushing the aerogel.

If 1 cube of a meterial has x% aerographite + (100-x)% air, while air has x% air + (100-x)% air, the material is still going to be lighter than air.

So, the question is — if you take a zeppelin-sized chunk of aerographite, seal the outside, and evacuate the air, will it hold up to the pressure?

How are they computing the density of the aerographite such that it doesn't float away (having 1/6 the density of air)?

Since this aerographite stuff actually compresses 20X quite willingly, its useless for balloons etc.

If a piece of aerographite were to be sealed on the outside, and all the air removed, then yes, it would float.

It's also not clear if aerographite is strong enough for the job.

Meta-Materials - Look to graphene, aerographite, graphene-gel, carbon-nanotubes etc.

> Non-conductive objects, such as plastics, could be coated with aerographite to make them conductive — without gaining weight.

Interesting potential for batteries (quoted from above link): "Due to its unique material characteristics, Aerographite could fit onto the electrodes of Li-ion batteries.

On the Aerographite wikipage it's called a "structural material".

As far as "flying away", from the video embedded in the linked article, you can see the aerographite is barely able to sit still on the table before the rod is introduced - one of them is about to fly away just sitting there.