Aerogel block cutting method and apparatus

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for cutting aerogel blocks. The method includes the following steps: adsorbing a volatile solvent onto a cutting component; contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block, allowing the volatile solvent to penetrate into the gaps between the nanopores of the aerogel block near the cutting component; and the evaporation of the volatile solvent causing the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block to rupture. Because the nanopores inside the aerogel block are small in size, even a small stress change can cause the nanopores to rupture, achieving the segmentation of the aerogel block. By using a volatile solvent to penetrate into the aerogel block, the continuous mesh structure within the aerogel block can be disrupted at specific points, achieving stable cutting of the aerogel block. Furthermore, the aerogel block is not subjected to macroscopic stress and strain during the cutting process, making the cutting process gentler and simpler, thus reducing the scrap rate and cutting cost of aerogel blocks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of aerogel block cutting technology, and in particular to a method and equipment for cutting aerogel blocks. Background Technology

[0002] Aerogel is a novel type of nanoporous material with a porosity of 80-99.8% and pore sizes typically ranging from 5 nm to 50 nm. It also possesses extremely low density, extremely low dielectric constant, and extremely low thermal conductivity, making aerogel a promising candidate for applications in heat insulation, thermal insulation, and impurity adsorption.

[0003] Aerogel blocks, as a highly customized product, require dimensions tailored to specific usage needs. However, the molding process for aerogel blocks still has significant room for improvement. Current methods for cutting aerogel blocks include diamond wire cutting, high-pressure gas cutting, ultrasonic cutting, or high-precision machining centers. However, the finished aerogel blocks have low strength, high brittleness, and localized stress concentration, making them prone to cracking under stress. Furthermore, the aforementioned cutting methods fall under the category of mechanical cutting, resulting in highly uneven stress distribution. Under stress, the bottom of the aerogel block is prone to cracking, or corners are easily chipped at the cut, leading to a high scrap rate. Additionally, the cutting process is complex and the cutting equipment is expensive. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, or at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this disclosure provides a method and equipment for cutting aerogel blocks.

[0005] The first aspect of this disclosure provides a method for cutting an aerogel block, comprising the following steps: adsorbing a volatile solvent onto a cutting component; contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block, wherein the volatile solvent penetrates into the gaps between the nanopores of the aerogel block near the cutting component; and the evaporation of the volatile solvent causes the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block to rupture, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block.

[0006] Optionally, the step of contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block, wherein the volatile solvent permeates into the internal pores of the aerogel block near the cutting component, specifically includes:

[0007] Determine the cutting position and cutting path of the aerogel block, align the cutting position of the aerogel block with the cutting component and fix it;

[0008] The cutting component moves cyclically along a preset path at a first preset speed, and the aerogel block moves along a preset direction at a second preset speed, so that the cutting component and the aerogel block are in continuous contact.

[0009] The volatile solvent is transported to the cutting position of the aerogel block as the cutting component continues to contact the cutting position, and the volatile solvent contacts the cutting position of the aerogel block and gradually penetrates into the internal pores of the aerogel block near the cutting position.

[0010] Optionally, during the process of bringing the cutting component into contact with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block, the area to be cut of the aerogel block is heated at a preset temperature to limit the penetration of the volatile solvent into areas away from the area to be cut.

[0011] And / or, during the process of bringing the cutting component into contact with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually entering the interior of the aerogel block, the area of ​​the aerogel block to be cut is vented to accelerate the evaporation of the volatile solvent and remove the gas that has been evaporated.

[0012] Optionally, aerogel debris is generated during the cutting process of the aerogel block. This debris is carried away by the cutting component as it moves relative to the aerogel block. The aerogel block cutting method further includes:

[0013] During the cutting process of the aerogel block, the aerogel debris adhering to the cutting component is cleaned.

[0014] A second aspect of this disclosure provides an aerogel block cutting device, including a drive mechanism, a cutting component, a support platform, and a volatile solvent box;

[0015] The support platform is used to support the aerogel block, and the driving mechanism is connected to the cutting component to drive the cutting component to move relative to the aerogel block, so that the cutting component contacts the surface of the aerogel block and gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block during the movement relative to the aerogel block;

[0016] The volatile solvent box is disposed near the cutting component and is used to provide the cutting component with volatile solvent so that the volatile solvent is adsorbed on the cutting component. The volatile solvent is configured to gradually penetrate into the internal pores of the aerogel block near the cutting component as the cutting component moves. The volatile solvent evaporates and pulls the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block to rupture, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block.

[0017] Optionally, the cutting component is a cutting strip or cutting line, and the cutting component is made of a hydrophilic fiber material; and / or, the volatile solvent is alcohol, acetone, or liquid nitrogen.

[0018] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a power component, a winding post, and at least one tensioning wheel;

[0019] The power unit is connected to the winding post and is used to drive the winding post to rotate. The tension wheel is located on one side of the winding post. The cutting component is wrapped around the periphery of the winding post and the tension wheel. The power unit drives the cutting component to rotate through the winding post and the tension wheel.

[0020] Optionally, the aerogel block cutting device further includes a cleaning component disposed around the cutting component, the cleaning component being used to clean aerogel debris adhering to the cutting component during the movement of the cutting component.

[0021] Optionally, the support platform includes a vacuum adsorption platform and a lifting cylinder connected to the vacuum adsorption platform. The vacuum adsorption platform is used to support the aerogel block, and the lifting cylinder is used to drive the vacuum adsorption platform to rise and fall, so as to lift the vacuum adsorption platform during the movement of the cutting component, so that the aerogel block is in continuous contact with the cutting component.

[0022] Optionally, the aerogel block cutting device further includes a heating component disposed near the support platform for heating the area of ​​the aerogel block to be cut, thereby limiting the penetration of the volatile solvent into areas away from the area to be cut; and / or, the aerogel block cutting device further includes a ventilation component disposed near the support platform for venting the area of ​​the aerogel block to be cut, thereby accelerating the evaporation of the volatile solvent and removing the gas formed by evaporation.

[0023] The technical solution provided in this disclosure has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0024] The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for cutting aerogel blocks. The method includes the following steps: adsorbing a volatile solvent onto a cutting component; contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block, whereby the volatile solvent permeates into the gaps between the nanopores of the aerogel block near the cutting component; and the evaporation of the volatile solvent causes the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block to rupture, thereby cutting the aerogel block. Through the above setup, the cutting component adsorbed with volatile solvent gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block, allowing the volatile solvent to gradually permeate into the gaps between the nanopores within the aerogel block according to a predetermined permeation direction. During the evaporation process, the volatile solvent can cause the pore walls of the nanopores in contact with the volatile solvent to rupture, and the nanopores in contact with the volatile solvent can continue to rupture along the predetermined permeation direction, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block. Because the nanopores inside the aerogel block are small in scale, even a small stress change can cause the nanopore walls to rupture, achieving the segmentation of the aerogel block. In other words, when this effect is applied to the cutting of aerogel blocks, it has a unique and significant effect. By using volatile solvents to penetrate into the interior of the aerogel block, the continuous mesh structure within the aerogel block can be disrupted at specific points, thereby achieving stable cutting of the aerogel block. Furthermore, the aerogel block is not subjected to macroscopic stress and strain during the cutting process, making the cutting process relatively gentle. This solves the problem of high cutting stress on the aerogel block caused by existing mechanical cutting methods, which disrupts the continuous mesh structure of the aerogel block and leads to cracks. Moreover, the aforementioned cutting components and volatile solvents are common and readily available, and the implementation process of this cutting method is also relatively simple and convenient, which can reduce the scrap rate and cutting cost of aerogel blocks. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a specific method for cutting aerogel blocks in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the volatile solvent about to come into contact with the aerogel block.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which volatile solvents permeate into the internal pores of the aerogel block in one embodiment of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the evaporation of volatile solvents and the cutting of the aerogel block.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an aerogel block cutting device in one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure label:

[0033] 1. Cutting component; 2. Volatile solvent; 20. Volatile gas; 3. Support platform; 31. Vacuum adsorption platform; 32. Lifting cylinder; 4. Drive mechanism; 41. Power component; 42. Winding post; 43. Tensioning wheel; 5. Volatile solvent box; 6. Cleaning component; 7. Heating component; 8. Exhaust system; 9. Cabinet; 100. Aerogel block. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this disclosure, the solutions disclosed herein will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other.

[0035] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this disclosure, but this disclosure may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some, and not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0036] The following detailed description of the aerogel block cutting method and equipment is provided through specific embodiments:

[0037] Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a method for cutting aerogel blocks, which can stably and gently cut aerogel blocks 100. Figure 1 A detailed flowchart of a method for cutting aerogel blocks according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the method for cutting the aerogel block includes:

[0038] S101, Adsorb volatile solvent 2 onto the cutting component 1;

[0039] S102, the cutting component 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the aerogel block 100 and gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block 100, and the volatile solvent 2 penetrates into the gaps between the nanopores of the aerogel block 100 near the cutting component 1.

[0040] S103 and volatile solvent 2 evaporate, causing the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block 100 to rupture, thus achieving the cutting of the aerogel block 100.

[0041] The aerogel block cutting method disclosed herein refers to... Figures 2 to 4 As shown, when the cutting component 1, which adsorbs volatile solvent 2, gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block 100, the volatile solvent 2 gradually penetrates into the gaps between the nanopores of the aerogel block 100 in a predetermined permeation direction. During the evaporation process, the volatile solvent 2 can cause the pore walls of the nanopores in contact with the volatile solvent to rupture, and the nanopores in contact with the volatile solvent can continue to rupture in the predetermined permeation direction, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block 100.

[0042] Aerogel bulk materials 100 are typically prepared using the sol-gel method. First, a precursor (e.g., an inorganic or organic silicon source) is dissolved in a solvent, and a catalyst is added to form a sol. After stirring, the sol undergoes hydrolysis over time, slowly agglomerating to form network structures. As the network structure increases, the sol transforms into a wet gel. Next, the wet gel undergoes aging to reduce internal defects and pores, strengthening the network structure. Finally, the most critical step in aerogel preparation is drying. Drying evaporates the liquid solvent in the wet gel, transforming the solid-liquid interface into a solid-gas interface. However, due to capillary effects, the nanopores in the gel easily collapse during drying. Once the nanopores disappear, the performance advantages of the aerogel are lost. To address this problem, a common solution is: 1) Supercritical CO2 drying method. In this method, supercritical CO2 fluid is used to replace the solvent in the gel in an autoclave. After depressurization, the supercritical CO2 fluid directly transforms into a gas, eliminating the evaporation process and completely transforming the wet gel into an aerogel. 2) Atmospheric pressure drying method: Under atmospheric pressure, the temperature is controlled to make the solvent in the gel pores evaporate at a very slow rate. Generally, the wet gel needs to undergo solvent exchange and surface modification. Solvent exchange means that a solvent with low surface tension is used to slowly replace the solvent with high surface tension in the gel pores. Surface modification means that hydrophobic groups such as -CH3 (methyl) are used to replace hydrophilic groups such as -OH (hydroxyl) to avoid the collapse of the gel pores.

[0043] The preparation process and cycle of aerogel block 100 are lengthy, and cutting, as the final step, has significantly impacted its widespread application due to its efficiency and yield. Because the nanopores inside aerogel block 100 are small in scale, even small stress changes can cause the nanopore walls to rupture, thus segmenting the aerogel block 100. In other words, when this effect is applied to the cutting of aerogel block 100, it has a unique and significant effect. By using volatile solvent 2 to penetrate into the interior of aerogel block 100, the continuous mesh structure within the aerogel block 100 can be disrupted at specific points, thereby achieving stable cutting of the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the aerogel block 100 is not subjected to macroscopic stress or strain during the cutting process, making the cutting process relatively gentle. This invention solves the problem that the mechanical cutting method used in the prior art results in high cutting stress on the aerogel block 100, which damages the continuous grid structure of the aerogel block 100 and causes cracks in the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the cutting component 1 and the volatile solvent 2 mentioned above are common and readily available, and the implementation process of this cutting method is also relatively simple and convenient, which can reduce the scrap rate and cutting cost of cutting the aerogel block 100.

[0044] In some embodiments, in S102, the cutting component 1 contacts the surface of the aerogel block 100 and gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block 100, and the volatile solvent 2 penetrates into the internal pores of the aerogel block 100 near the cutting component 1. Specifically, this includes: determining the cutting position and cutting path of the aerogel block 100; placing the aerogel block 100 on the support platform 3; aligning the cutting position of the aerogel block 100 with the cutting component 1 so that the cutting component 1 can cut at the desired position. The cutting component 1 cyclically moves along a preset path at a first preset speed. The first preset speed can be 2 m / s-7 m / s, for example, 5 m / s. The support platform 3 drives the aerogel block 100 to move along a preset direction at a second preset speed. When the support platform 3 drives the aerogel block 100 to move along the path closer to the cutting component 1, the second preset speed can be 0.2 mm / min-0.7 mm / min, for example, it can move at a speed of 0.5 mm / min, so that the cutting component 1 can maintain continuous contact with the aerogel block 100 during the movement. During the movement of the cutting component 1, the volatile solvent 2 is transported to the cutting position of the aerogel block 100 as the cutting component 1 continues to contact the aerogel block 100. The volatile solvent 2 contacts the cutting position of the aerogel block 100 and gradually penetrates into the gaps between the nanopores inside the aerogel block 100 near the cutting position. As the volatile solvent 2 evaporates, the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block 100 are subjected to stress and rupture, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block 100.

[0045] It should be noted that in practical applications, the support platform 3 may not be necessary. Technicians can hold the aerogel block 100 by hand and cut the required area, thus improving the flexibility of cutting the aerogel block 100. Alternatively, the aerogel block 100 can be fixed to a dedicated robotic arm, which also improves the flexibility of cutting the aerogel block 100.

[0046] Furthermore, the aerogel block cutting method also includes heating the cutting position of the aerogel block 100 at a preset temperature during the process of bringing the cutting component 1 into contact with the surface of the aerogel block 100 and gradually penetrating into the interior of the aerogel block 100. The preset temperature can be 60℃-90℃, for example, 80℃. The volatile solvent 2 can be alcohol, acetone, or liquid nitrogen, etc. Since the activity of such volatile solvent 2 decreases with higher temperatures, heating the volatile solvent 2 can limit its penetration into areas far from the cutting position, ensuring that the volatile solvent 2 always penetrates and cuts at the cutting position on the aerogel block 100, preventing the volatile solvent 2 from cutting outside the preset cutting path, and ensuring that the aerogel block 100 can be successfully cut to the required size or structure.

[0047] In some embodiments, during the process of bringing the cutting component 1 into contact with the surface of the aerogel block 100 and gradually penetrating its interior, ventilation is applied to the area to be cut in the aerogel block 100 to accelerate the evaporation of the volatile solvent 2 and remove the volatile gas 20 that has already evaporated. Due to the inherent properties of the volatile solvent 2, it evaporates during its penetration into the aerogel block 100 to achieve cutting. Therefore, by ventilating the area to be cut, the evaporation rate of the volatile solvent 2 can be accelerated, improving the cutting speed and efficiency of the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the volatile gas 20 generated after the volatile solvent 2 evaporates is quite irritating, and inhaling too much of it can be harmful to the human body. Ventilating the area to be cut can also remove the volatile gas 20 that has already evaporated, protecting human health and ensuring environmental cleanliness.

[0048] In practice, aerogel debris is generated during the cutting process of the aerogel block 100. The aerogel debris is carried out by the cutting component 1 as it moves relative to the aerogel block 100. The aerogel block cutting method also includes cleaning the aerogel debris attached to the cutting component 1 during the cutting process of the aerogel block 100 to ensure the cleanliness of the cutting component 1 itself and facilitate subsequent operations of the cutting component 1.

[0049] Reference Figure 5 As shown, some embodiments of this disclosure provide an aerogel block cutting device, including a drive mechanism 4, a cutting component 1, a support platform 3, and a volatile solvent box 5.

[0050] Specifically, the support platform 3 is used to support the aerogel block 100, and the drive mechanism 4 is connected to the cutting component 1 to drive the cutting component 1 to move relative to the aerogel block 100, so that the cutting component 1 contacts the surface of the aerogel block 100 and gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block 100 during the movement relative to the aerogel block 100. The volatile solvent box 5 is disposed near the cutting component 1 and is used to provide the cutting component 1 with volatile solvent 2 so that the volatile solvent 2 is adsorbed on the cutting component 1. The volatile solvent 2 is configured to gradually penetrate into the internal pores of the aerogel block 100 near the cutting component 1 as the cutting component 1 moves. The volatile solvent 2 evaporates and pulls the pore walls of the nanopores inside the aerogel block 100 to rupture, thereby achieving the cutting of the aerogel block 100.

[0051] With the above configuration, the aerogel block cutting device includes a drive mechanism 4, a cutting component 1, a support platform 3, and a volatile solvent box 5. The aerogel block 100 is placed on the support platform 3, and the drive mechanism 4 drives the cutting component 1 to move relative to the aerogel block 100, causing the volatile solvent 2 adhering to the cutting component 1 to gradually penetrate into the pores inside the aerogel block 100. Because the nanopores inside the aerogel block 100 are small in size, the pore walls can rupture even under very small stress changes, thus achieving the segmentation of the aerogel block 100. In other words, when this effect is applied to the cutting of the aerogel block 100, it has a unique and significant effect, as described above. Figures 2 to 4 As shown, by using volatile solvent 2 to penetrate into the interior of the aerogel block 100, the continuous mesh structure within the aerogel block 100 can be disrupted at specific points, thereby achieving stable cutting of the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the aerogel block 100 is not subjected to macroscopic stress or strain during the cutting process, making the cutting process relatively gentle. This solves the problem in existing technologies where mechanical cutting methods result in high cutting stress on the aerogel block 100, disrupting the continuous mesh structure and causing cracks. Moreover, the aforementioned cutting component 1 and volatile solvent 2 are readily available, and the implementation process of this cutting method is relatively simple and convenient, reducing the scrap rate and cutting cost of the aerogel block 100.

[0052] It should be noted that in practical applications, the cutting component 1 can be made of a fiber material with good water absorption, high tensile strength, and good wear resistance. The cutting component 1 can be a cutting strip or cutting wire made of nylon or vinylon, for example, it can be a filamentous nylon cutting wire, to ensure that the cutting component 1 has high hydrophilicity and adsorption. The volatile solvent box 5 stores volatile solvent 2, which is a material with high permeability and volatility that is compatible with the aerogel block 100, such as alcohol, acetone, or liquid nitrogen. The volatile solvent box 5 can be equipped with a dropper, allowing the volatile solvent 2 to drip onto the cutting component 1 during its movement.

[0053] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the drive mechanism 4 includes a power component 41, a winding post 42, and at least one tensioning wheel 43. The power component 41 is a power motor, which is driven and connected to the winding post 42 to drive the winding post 42 to rotate. The number of tensioning wheels 43 can be one, two, or three, as long as they can cooperate with the winding post 42 to tension the cutting component 1. Specifically, there are two tensioning wheels 43, which are arranged opposite each other and located on the same side of the winding post 42. The cutting component is wound around the winding post and the two tensioning wheels. The power component 41 drives the cutting component 1 to rotate through the winding post 42 and the two tensioning wheels 43. The winding post 42 and the power motor provide the spindle speed, so that the cutting component 1 always moves around the winding post 42 and the two tensioning wheels 43, generating a certain frictional force on the surface of the aerogel block 100. The tensioning wheel 43 is used to support the cutting component 1, so that the cutting component 1 maintains a certain tension and avoids slack during the movement of the cutting component 1, which would affect the cutting accuracy of the aerogel block 100.

[0054] The aerogel block cutting equipment also includes a cleaning component 6, which is disposed around the cutting component 1. The cleaning component 6 is used to clean the aerogel debris adhering to the cutting component 1 during its movement. The cleaning component 6 can be flexibly configured according to cleaning needs. For example, the cleaning component 6 can be a high-pressure spray gun, which performs high-pressure rinsing on the outer periphery of the cutting component 1 during its movement to achieve rapid cleaning. The cleaning component 6 can also be a water tank, through which the cutting component 1 passes as it moves, to wet the outer periphery of the cutting component 1 for rapid cleaning.

[0055] It should be noted that the support platform 3 can be flexibly configured according to actual cutting requirements. For example, the support platform 3 can be an operating platform located near the cutting component 1, or it can be a lifting platform located near the cutting component 1. In some embodiments, the support platform 3 includes a vacuum adsorption platform 31 and a lifting cylinder 32 connected to the vacuum adsorption platform 31. The vacuum adsorption platform 31 is used to vacuum adsorb and fix the aerogel block 100, ensuring that the aerogel block 100 will not shift during the cutting process, thus preventing the smooth cutting of the volatile solvent 2. The lifting cylinder 32 is used to drive the vacuum adsorption platform 31 to rise and fall, so that the vacuum adsorption platform 31 is raised during the movement of the cutting component 1, so that the aerogel block 100 is in continuous contact with the cutting component 1. This allows the cutting component 1 to exert a certain pressure on the aerogel block 100 during the cutting process, ensuring tight contact between the cutting component 1 and the aerogel block 100. This makes it easier for the volatile solvent 2 to penetrate into the interior of the aerogel block 100, thereby achieving continuous cutting of the aerogel block 100 and improving the flexibility of cutting the aerogel block 100. The vacuum adsorption table 31 and the lifting cylinder 32 can be placed directly on the ground. The aerogel block cutting equipment may also include a cabinet 9, on which the vacuum adsorption table 31 and the lifting cylinder 32 are placed.

[0056] In some embodiments, the aerogel block cutting device further includes a heating element 7 disposed near the support platform 3, used to provide auxiliary heating to the cutting position of the aerogel block 100, thereby limiting the penetration of the volatile solvent 2 into areas away from the cutting position. The heating element 7 can be an infrared auxiliary heating structure with a heating temperature of 80°C. The auxiliary heating area can be disposed on both sides of the cutting element 1 near the aerogel block 100. Due to the inherent characteristics of the volatile solvent 2, its activity decreases with higher temperatures. Therefore, heating the volatile solvent 2 can limit its penetration into areas away from the cutting position, ensuring that the volatile solvent 2 always penetrates and cuts at the cutting position on the aerogel block 100, thus guaranteeing the cutting accuracy of the volatile solvent 2.

[0057] In some embodiments, the aerogel block cutting device further includes an exhaust component 8 disposed near the support platform 3. The exhaust component 8 can be a fan or a negative pressure air duct, used to exhaust air from the area to be cut of the aerogel block 100 to accelerate the evaporation of the volatile solvent 2, thereby improving the cutting speed and efficiency of the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the volatile gas 20 generated after the volatile solvent 2 evaporates is quite irritating, and inhaling too much can be harmful to the human body. Exhausting air from the area to be cut can also remove the volatile gas 20 that has already evaporated, protecting human health and ensuring environmental cleanliness. It should be noted that the heating component 7 and the exhaust component 8 in the above embodiments can be made into two separate components according to actual usage requirements, or they can be an integrated system of auxiliary heating and negative pressure air duct.

[0058] The above-described configuration simplifies the structure of the aerogel block cutting device. The fiber-based cutting component 1 and the volatile alcohol-based solvent 2 are readily available and inexpensive. After setting the parameters of each component mentioned in the above embodiments, the cutting of the aerogel block 100 can be initiated. The process of cutting the aerogel block 100 using the above-described cutting device is also relatively simple and convenient. The volatile solvent 2 penetrates into the pores inside the aerogel block 100, achieving stable cutting of the aerogel block 100. Furthermore, the aerogel block 100 is not subjected to macroscopic stress or strain during the cutting process, resulting in a gentler cutting process. This reduces the scrap rate and cutting cost of the aerogel block 100.

[0059] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0060] The above are merely specific embodiments of this disclosure, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not to be limited to these embodiments, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method of cutting aerogel blocks, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: adsorbing volatile solvent on the cutting component; contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually entering the interior of the aerogel block, and the volatile solvent permeates into the internal gap of the aerogel block near the cutting component; the volatile solvent volatilizes and drags the pore wall of the nanopore in the interior of the aerogel block to break, thereby achieving cutting of the aerogel block; the cutting component is made of fiber material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually entering the interior of the aerogel block, and the volatile solvent permeates into the internal gap of the aerogel block near the cutting component specifically comprises: determining the cutting position and cutting path of the aerogel block, aligning the cutting position of the aerogel block with the cutting component and fixing it; the cutting component moves in a first preset speed along a preset path, and the aerogel block moves in a second preset speed along a preset direction, so that the cutting component and the aerogel block are in continuous contact; the volatile solvent is transported to the cutting position of the aerogel block along with the continuous contact between the cutting component and the aerogel block, and the volatile solvent contacts the cutting position of the aerogel block and gradually permeates into the internal gap of the aerogel block near the cutting position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, In the process of contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually entering the interior of the aerogel block, the cutting position of the aerogel block is heated at a preset temperature to limit the permeation of the volatile solvent away from the cutting position; and / or, in the process of contacting the cutting component with the surface of the aerogel block and gradually entering the interior of the aerogel block, the cutting position of the aerogel block is subjected to air suction to accelerate the volatilization of the volatile solvent and to remove the gas formed by volatilization.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, During the cutting of the aerogel block, aerogel chips are generated, which are carried out by the cutting component along with the movement of the cutting component relative to the aerogel block, and the aerogel block cutting method further comprises: cleaning the aerogel chips attached to the cutting component during the cutting of the aerogel block.

5. An aerogel bulk cutting apparatus, comprising: The device comprises a driving mechanism, a cutting component, a bearing table and a volatile solvent box; the bearing table is used to bear the aerogel block, and the driving mechanism is connected with the cutting component to drive the cutting component to move relative to the aerogel block, so that the cutting component contacts the surface of the aerogel block and gradually enters the interior of the aerogel block during the movement relative to the aerogel block; the volatile solvent box is arranged near the cutting component and is used to provide volatile solvent to the cutting component to adsorb volatile solvent on the cutting component, and the volatile solvent is configured to gradually permeate into the internal gap of the aerogel block near the cutting component along with the movement of the cutting component, and the volatile solvent volatilizes and drags the pore wall of the nanopore in the interior of the aerogel block to break, thereby achieving cutting of the aerogel block.

6. The aerogel monolith cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The cutting component is a cutting belt or a cutting wire, and the cutting component is made of a hydrophilic fiber material; And / or, the volatile solvent is alcohol, acetone or liquid nitrogen.

7. The aerogel monolith cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The driving mechanism comprises a power component, a winding column and at least one tensioning wheel; The power component is connected with the winding column and used to drive the winding column to rotate, the tensioning wheel is located at one side of the winding column, the cutting component is arranged around the periphery of the winding column and the tensioning wheel, and the power component drives the cutting component to rotate through the winding column and the tensioning wheel.

8. The aerogel monolith cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The aerogel block cutting equipment further comprises a cleaning component arranged around the cutting component, and the cleaning component is used to clean the aerogel scraps attached to the cutting component during the movement of the cutting component.

9. The aerogel monolith cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The bearing table comprises a vacuum adsorption table and a lifting cylinder connected with the vacuum adsorption table, the vacuum adsorption table is used to bear the aerogel block, and the lifting cylinder is used to drive the vacuum adsorption table to lift up, so that the aerogel block is in continuous contact with the cutting component during the movement of the cutting component.

10. The aerogel monolith cutting apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The aerogel block cutting equipment further comprises a heating component arranged close to the bearing table, which is used to heat the cutting position of the aerogel block, so as to limit the penetration of the volatile solvent away from the cutting position; And / or, the aerogel block cutting equipment further comprises an air extraction component arranged close to the bearing table, which is used to extract air from the cutting position of the aerogel block, so as to accelerate the volatilization of the volatile solvent and extract the gas formed by volatilization.

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