Aerogels are a Class of Synthetic Porous Ultralight Material Derived from a Gel

 

Aerogels
Aerogels 

Aerogels are a subclass of synthetic porous ultralight materials that are derived from gels in which the gel's liquid component has been replaced with gas without the gel's structure significantly collapsing. The end product is a solid with an incredibly low density and thermal conductivity. Numerous chemical substances can be used to create aerogels. Some polymer-based aerogels feel like rigid foams, whereas silica aerogels feel like brittle expanded polystyrene.

According to Coherent Market Insights the Aerogels Market Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook and Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2028

By supercritical drying or freeze-drying, the liquid portion of a gel is removed to create aerogels. As a result, the liquid can be slowly dried off without conventional evaporation leading to the gel's solid matrix collapsing due to capillary action. Silica gels were used to create the first aerogels. Later research by Kistler focused on aerogels made of alumina, chromium, and tin dioxide. In the late 1980s, the first carbon aerogels were created.

Since their creation, silica has been the main component of aerogels. To make a gel, the silica is mixed with a solvent. After that, supercritical fluid extraction is applied to this gel. In order to extract the supercritical fluid, liquid carbon dioxide must be added to the gel. The carbon dioxide is vented once it has passed the supercritical point, at which it can exist as either a gas or a liquid. To guarantee that all liquids are taken out of the gel, this exchange is carried out several times. Aerogel is the final product.

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