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