| abstract |
The invention provides a method for imparting curvature to a substantially planar material comprising placing substantially planar material in a smart bag, and heat shrinking the smart-bagged material, wherein curvature is imparted to the smart-bagged material upon heat-shrinkage (e.g., placing an aerogel blanket with fibrous batting in a smart bag, applying vacuum and sealing the bag, shipping the flat bagged material to a work-site, heat-shrinking the bag to impart annular geometry, and securing the bagged insulation around an oil pipeline). Methods are included for preparing a smart bag of the invention. |