A recent popular science article sparked heated discussion among industry enthusiasts by comparing foamed cement and titanium alloy as thermal insulation shells for hypersonic missiles. Beyond thermal insulation performance, the article focuses on core production costs and illustrates the huge price gap between the two materials. Titanium alloy boasts outstanding comprehensive performance yet suffers from high raw material and processing costs, limiting its large-scale application due to economic barriers. By contrast, foamed cement delivers basic qualified heat insulation, with easily accessible raw materials and simple forming procedures, making it cost-efficient. The article clarifies that the comparison is merely for recreational popular science rather than official military material standards. Military equipment selection demands strict standards including high temperature resistance, impact resistance, lightweight design and long-term stability, instead of only prioritizing low cost. Netizens commented that the easy-to-understand content changes the stereotype that higher-priced materials always suit military use, explaining the balance between performance and cost in industrial design. Insiders stated the article effectively spreads basic knowledge of thermal insulation materials in an approachable way. For more information, please visit https://v.douyin.com/cqWECsXikiE