Aerogel Preparation via Plasticizer Foaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermoplastic foaming processes are limited to low-temperature plasticizable polymers and are not applicable to non-thermoplastic materials like carbon, inorganic, and metallic materials, which require high energy for supercritical or freeze drying, resulting in unstable aerogel structures unsuitable for large-scale industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a plasticizer in a solution to penetrate and reduce intermolecular forces within macroscopic materials, allowing for in-situ bubble generation and foaming, thereby producing aerogel materials without the need for high-energy heat treatment, applicable to non-thermoplastic polymers such as graphene, Mxene, and metal oxides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thermoplastic foaming process is used, then low-temperature processing is achieved, but it is only applicable to polymer materials and cannot process carbon, inorganic, or metallic materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plasticizer solution as an intermediary substance that penetrates into the material structure to reduce intermolecular forces. This mediator enables materials that would normally require high temperatures (like carbon, inorganic, and metallic materials) to undergo foaming at low temperatures, thereby expanding material applicability without increasing processing temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the material by introducing plasticizers that modify intermolecular forces. This parameter change allows non-thermoplastic materials to become plasticizable at low temperatures, enabling the foaming process to be applied to a broader range of materials including carbon, inorganic, and metallic materials
2Stability of the object's composition
If supercritical drying or freeze drying is used to prepare aerogels, then aerogel structure is obtained, but high energy consumption is required and the structure is unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the high-energy mechanical drying systems (supercritical drying equipment, freeze drying equipment) with a chemical-physical process using plasticizer solutions. The plasticizer penetrates the gel structure and reduces intermolecular forces, allowing the gel to transform into aerogel through spontaneous bubble generation and foam formation, eliminating the need for high-energy drying equipment and processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition phenomena where the plasticizer solution penetrates the gel and induces bubble formation through phase changes. The solvent in the plasticizer solution transitions from liquid state to gas state, generating bubbles in-situ that form the aerogel structure, replacing the need for high-energy supercritical or freeze drying processes
3Ease of manufacture
If high energy is supplied to plasticize carbon, inorganic, or metallic materials, then foaming can be achieved, but extremely high energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces plasticizer solution as an intermediary that reduces intermolecular forces within the material structure. This intermediary enables carbon, inorganic, and metallic materials to become plasticizable without requiring extremely high energy input, making the foaming process energy-efficient while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The plasticizer solution performs multiple functions simultaneously: it penetrates the material, reduces intermolecular forces, and enables spontaneous bubble generation. The system serves itself by using the plasticizer's chemical properties to achieve plasticization and foaming in one process, eliminating the need for external high-energy input
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the production of aerogels with controlled structure and properties, reducing energy consumption and achieving high volume expansion ratios, suitable for applications in insulation, damping, and electromagnetic shielding, with excellent mechanical properties and structural controllability.
Implementation Method 1
plasticizer, in a solution, penetrates into an assembled macroscopical material to reduce the intermolecular force inside the assembled material
Implementation Method 2
an in-situ foaming can be realized based on the foaming agent, thereby obtaining the aerogel material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for preparing an aerogel based on plasticizing and foaming with solvent, and the aerogel material is prepared through plasticization with solvent and generation of in-situ bubbles. The method solves the difficult problem that the non-polymer is difficult to realize thermoplastic foaming, and has wide applicability. In addition, a lot of foaming agents can be uses for this method, and this method is easy to implement, and does not require a special drying process, so that the industrialization development of the porous aerogel is greatly promote.