mli

MLI is an acronym that may refer to several different concepts depending on the field. In engineering and aerospace, it most commonly denotes Multilayer Insulation, a thermal control system used to limit heat transfer by radiation.

Multilayer insulation consists of multiple alternating layers of thin reflective foils and low-thermoconductivity spacer materials. The reflective layers, typically aluminum-coated plastic films such as Mylar or Kapton, reflect radiant heat, while the spacer material minimizes conductive heat transfer and prevents layer-to-layer contact. The layers are often arranged in blankets or reflectively coated panels that form a near-vacuum environment. By reducing radiative heat exchange, MLI lowers the amount of heat that must be removed or supplied by the spacecraft's thermal control system. It is widely used on satellites, space probes, space habitats, and during cryogenic-transfer lines. Typical performance depends on layer count, material choice, overlap, and the distance between layers, and it can be sensitive to damage from micrometeoroids or tearing.

In other domains, MLI can stand for various terms and organizations; the exact meaning is set by context. If you encounter MLI, identify the field or organization to determine the intended meaning.