Microstructure and Thermal Insulation Property of Silica Composite Aerogel

• Published in: Materials Vol. 12; no. 6; p. 993
• Main Authors: Shang, Lei, Lyu, Yang, Han, Wenbo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.03.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Aerogels; Aircraft; anti-infrared radiation fiber; Ceramic fibers; Cold surfaces; Composite materials; Heat conductivity; Heat resistance; Heat transfer; High temperature; Infrared radiation; Insulation; Mechanical properties; Performance tests; Silanes; silica aerogel; Silicon dioxide; Skin; supercritical drying; Test equipment; Tetraethyl orthosilicate; Thermal conductivity; Thermal insulation; Thickness; Titanium alloys; China; supercritical drying; thermal insulation; silica aerogel; anti-infrared radiation fiber
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma12060993

Tetraethyl orthosilicate was selected as a matrix of heat insulating materials among three silanes, and an anti-infrared radiation fiber was chosen as a reinforcement for silica aerogel insulation composite. The silica aerogel was combined well and evenly distributed in the anti-infrared radiation fiber. The heat insulation effect was improved with the increase in thickness of the aerogel insulation material, as determined by the self-made aerospace insulation material insulation performance test equipment. The 15 mm and 30 mm thick thermal insulation material heated at 250 °C for 3 h, the temperatures at the cold surface were about 80 °C and 60 °C, respectively, and the temperatures at 150 mm above the cold surface were less than 60 °C and 50 °C, respectively. The silica aerogel composites with various thicknesses showed good thermal insulation stability. The silica insulation composite with a thickness of 15 mm exhibited good heat insulation performance, meets the thermal insulation requirements of general equipment compartments under low-temperature and long-term environmental conditions. The thermal conductivity of prepared silica aerogel composite was 0.0191 W·m ·k at room temperature and 0.0489 W·m ·k at 500 °C.