SiOC foam-aerogel composites: Optimal balance of lightness and excellent thermal insulation

Foam-aerogel composites are synthesized in polymeric, hybrid, and ceramic states by completing the open cells of the foam with a solution forming a wet gel, carbon dioxide (CO2) supercritically dried, and pyrolyzed. Thermal diffusivity measurements are conducted using the laser flash, and for mechanical performance, cold crushing tests are done to obtain compressive strengths. Samples possess a range of specific surface area (SSA) values up to similar to 650 m2/g contingent upon the material state, that is, polymeric, hybrid, or ceramic. While SSA values can be deliberately altered, almost all samples demonstrated a total porosity of similar to 90 vol%, with superb specific compressive strength reaching around 2 MPa. In addition to adjustable surface characteristics granting hydrophobic and hydrophilic features, the study revealed the potential use of these foam-aerogel composites as thermal insulators with low thermal conductivities of 0.02 Wm-1K-1 at RT and 0.05 Wm-1K-1 at 500 degrees C. When exposed directly to a butane flame gun with a flame temperature reaching similar to 1200 degrees C, from the backside of a 5 mm-thick foam-aerogel composite, only similar to 200 degrees C is recorded, which is lower than a comparable commercial insulator panel tested under the same conditions.