Netshape Gradient Aerogel Articles Reinforced By Hybrid Molecules and Polymers

由杂化分子和聚合物增强的 Netshape 梯度气凝胶制品

• 批准号: 1200484
• 负责人: Sadhan Jana
• 金额: $ 35.16万
• 依托单位: University of Akron
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-05-01 至 2016-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1200484&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Netshape; Gradient; Aerogel; Articles; Reinforced

This research bridges the gap between manufacturing capability of current technology and the need to manufacture flexible, netshape gradient silica aerogel articles. Potential uses for these porous gel materials include insulation for cryogenic fuel tanks, for example, or filtration media for removal of particulates or volatile organic compounds from air. The fundamental mechanisms of aerogel reinforcement by hybrid molecules and conformal coating of polymer crosslinks are investigated with the ultimate aim to manufacture stronger silica aerogel articles with negligible changes in density and porosity and strong control of hydrophobicity. This research utilizes a novel method for homogeneous reinforcement of aerogels using chemical reactions between small, optimal quantities of molecularly mixed, very small (approximately 1 nanometer) size hybrid organic-inorganic molecules or silane-endcapped polyurethanes with the silica particles. The research also develops a new ?one-pot? manufacturing method for aerogel articles of complicated shapes; the steps of gelation, chemical reinforcement, and drying are all carried out sequentially in the same mold to dramatically reduce the manufacturing time. The results of this research are expected to yield understanding of manufacturing of complex shapes of mesoporous, netshape aerogel specimens with gradients of density, porosity and surface energy. Given the large investment in research on aerogels and significant development of understanding of chemistry of aerogel reinforcement in batch processes over the past decade, this systematic program dissecting the source of structure and property generation in aerogel system will benefit a wide range of scientists and engineers in the field. It is anticipated that several derivatives of the proposed research work will be soon developed by other researchers to accommodate inorganic aerogels derived from alumina or organic aerogels derived from polymeric sources. Several outreach functions will be carried out in this research to attract minority and female students to STEM education.

本研究弥合了当前技术的制造能力与制造柔性、净形梯度二氧化硅气凝胶制品的需求之间的差距。这些多孔凝胶材料的潜在用途包括例如用于低温燃料箱的绝缘材料，或用于从空气中去除颗粒或挥发性有机化合物的过滤介质。研究了通过混合分子和聚合物交联的保形涂层的气凝胶增强的基本机制，最终目的是制造更强的二氧化硅气凝胶制品，其密度和孔隙率的变化可以忽略不计，并且具有强的疏水性控制。这项研究利用了一种新的方法，用于均匀增强气凝胶，使用少量的，最佳量的分子混合，非常小的（约1纳米）尺寸的混合有机-无机分子或硅烷封端的聚氨酯与二氧化硅颗粒之间的化学反应。 该研究还开发了一种新的？一锅？本发明提供了一种用于复杂形状的气凝胶制品的制造方法;凝胶化、化学增强和干燥的步骤都在同一模具中顺序进行，以显著减少制造时间。本研究的结果预计将产生的理解复杂形状的介孔，netshape气凝胶试样的密度，孔隙率和表面能的梯度制造。鉴于在过去十年中对气凝胶研究的大量投资以及对气凝胶增强剂在间歇工艺中的化学理解的重大发展，这个系统的程序剖析了气凝胶系统中结构和性质产生的来源，将使该领域的广泛科学家和工程师受益。预计其他研究人员将很快开发出拟议研究工作的几种衍生物，以适应来自氧化铝的无机气凝胶或来自聚合物来源的有机气凝胶。在这项研究中将开展几项外联活动，以吸引少数民族和女性学生接受STEM教育。