Synthesis and characterisation of silica aerogel/fibrous material composites for the purposes of thermal insulation.

用于隔热目的的二氧化硅气凝胶/纤维材料复合材料的合成和表征。

• 批准号: 2281167
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Newcastle University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2281167
• 关键词: Synthesis; characterisation; silica; aerogel; fibrous

Global warming is one of the most significant challenges that humanity is currently facing and will continue to face within the coming years. As noted in the Fifth Special Report by the IPCC, in 2010 buildings were responsible for approximately 32% of the overall global energy usage and approximately 20% of total global energy-associated greenhouse gas emissions [1]. According to the aforementioned IPCC Fifth Special Report, it is believed that the energy consumption and associated greenhouse gases that are directly linked with buildings may double or triple by 2050 [1]. Aerogels are defined as one of the most porous materials currently in existence. Their classification refers to a collection of highly nano-porous solids, which can be produced from a variety of precursors, imbuing each aerogel with highly variable properties [2]. As such, aerogels can provide solutions to, and enhance, current technologies. Such applications include aerogel implementation within heat insulation, drug delivery, and catalysis technologies [2]. The researcher aims to design and subsequently synthesise flame-resistant aerogel composites with superior mechanical properties, relative to that of conventional silica aerogels, through fibrous materials processing within the silica matrix. The intended application is for use as a sustainable, lightweight, and low-cost alternative for current thermal insulation. After the synthesis procedure has been carried out, optimisation of these composites will also be performed. Another aim is to develop a large-scale processing method in which sizable aerogels may be synthesised. Aerogels are currently limited in size due to the solvent-exchange aging process, which is diffusion limited, as the solvents cannot adequately penetrate the pores of the aerogels if the thickness is too significant [2]. Objectives: Utilise an array of analytical techniques in order to determine key parameters of the composites in order to establish the validity of the materials as forms of thermal insulation. Such parameters include the mechanical strength (compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength), thermal conductivity, and flame-resistance.Methodologies: The researcher intends to synthesise monolithic silica aerogel composites, via using a novel silica aerogel synthesis technique involving certain sustainable, low-cost, and non-toxic components, coupled with a specific silica precursor agent. Moreover, the validity of utilising a modified version of the aforementioned technique will be analysed in order to determine if it possible to use this method to bypass the solvent-exchange aging process and therefore synthesise sizeable aerogels. Such methodologies will be utilised as the theoretical processing basis for the large-scale production of aerogels.

全球变暖是人类目前面临并将在未来几年继续面临的最重大挑战之一。正如气专委在第五次特别报告中指出的那样，2010年，建筑物约占全球总能源使用量的32%，约占全球与能源相关的温室气体排放总量的20%[1]。根据前面提到的IPCC第五次特别报告，人们认为，到2050年，与建筑物直接相关的能源消耗和相关的温室气体可能会增加一倍或三倍[1]。气凝胶被定义为目前存在的最多孔的材料之一。他们的分类指的是一组高度纳米多孔的固体，这些固体可以从各种前体中产生，使每一种气凝胶具有高度可变的性质[2]。因此，气凝胶可以为当前的技术提供解决方案，并增强现有技术。这些应用包括隔热、药物输送和催化技术中的气凝胶应用[2]。研究人员的目标是通过在二氧化硅基质中加工纤维材料，设计并随后合成具有相对于传统二氧化硅气凝胶更好的力学性能的阻燃气凝胶复合材料。其预期用途是作为当前隔热材料的一种可持续、轻质和低成本的替代品。在完成合成过程后，还将对这些复合材料进行优化。另一个目标是开发一种大规模的加工方法，在这种方法中可以合成出相当大的气凝胶。由于溶剂交换老化过程的扩散受限，目前气凝胶的尺寸受到限制，因为如果厚度太大，溶剂不能充分穿透气凝胶的孔[2]。目的：利用一系列分析技术来确定复合材料的关键参数，以确定材料作为隔热形式的有效性。这些参数包括机械强度(压缩强度、拉伸强度和弯曲强度)、导热系数和阻燃性。方法：研究人员打算通过使用一种新的二氧化硅气凝胶合成技术，结合特定的二氧化硅前驱剂，合成整体式二氧化硅气凝胶复合材料。此外，还将分析使用上述技术的改进版本的有效性，以确定是否有可能使用该方法绕过溶剂交换老化过程，从而合成出尺寸可观的气凝胶。这些方法将被用作大规模生产气凝胶的理论加工基础。