Aerogel Composite Sol Composition for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerogel production methods result in products with poor handleability and difficulty in producing large aerogels due to low density and a porous structure, leading to issues with thermal conductivity and productivity, as well as short pot life of sol materials.
Innovation Solution
A sol composition comprising silicon compounds with hydrolyzable functional groups and silica particles with specific size and surface area ranges, forming a three-dimensional network skeleton and pores, which enhances thermal insulation and flexibility while improving handleability and productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If supercritical drying is used to produce silica aerogel, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but capital investment and process complexity increase due to high-pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the silica gel network structure from the conventional supercritical drying process and preserves it through ambient pressure drying by controlling the gelation and drying conditions, thereby eliminating the need for complex high-pressure equipment while maintaining thermal insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the drying parameters from supercritical conditions to ambient pressure conditions by adjusting the gel composition and drying environment, transforming the process from high-pressure to atmospheric pressure while preserving the aerogel's insulating properties
2Device complexity
If ambient pressure drying is used to simplify the process, then capital investment is reduced, but gel shrinkage increases due to capillary force stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-treating the gel with specific surfactants and controlling the gelation process before drying, which reduces surface tension and prevents capillary-induced shrinkage during ambient pressure drying, thereby maintaining the gel's original shape and volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the liquid phase and gas phase during drying, reducing surface tension and capillary forces that cause gel shrinkage, enabling shape retention under ambient pressure conditions
3Ease of operation
If pore diameter is increased to micrometer scale to improve flexibility, then handleability is improved, but thermal conductivity significantly increases reducing thermal insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a hierarchical pore structure with different pore sizes distributed throughout the material, maintaining micrometer-scale pores for flexibility while preserving nanometer-scale pores for thermal insulation, thereby achieving both handleability and insulating performance simultaneously
4Reliability
If conventional aerogel production methods are used, then thermal insulation is achieved, but productivity decreases due to difficulty in producing large aerogels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the aerogel production into modular stages (gelation, drying, treatment) that can be scaled and optimized independently, enabling large-scale production while maintaining thermal insulation quality through standardized process control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key process parameters including gel composition, drying rate, and treatment conditions to enable production of large aerogel pieces without compromising thermal insulation, thereby improving productivity and scalability of the manufacturing process
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
The solution provides an aerogel composite with superior thermal insulation and flexibility, allowing for larger production and improved productivity, while maintaining satisfactory thermal insulation and flexibility, and extending the pot life of sol materials.
Implementation Method 1
a sol composition comprising: at least one selected from the group consisting of a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group or a condensable functional group and a hydrolysis product of the silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group
Implementation Method 2
a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group or a condensable functional group
Implementation Method 3
Silica aerogels are known as materials having thermal insulation with low thermal conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sol composition for forming an aerogel composite, wherein the sol composition is a sol composition with a sufficient pot life for forming an aerogel composite superior in thermal insulation and flexibility, and comprises: at least one selected from the group consisting of a silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group or a condensable functional group and a hydrolysis product of the silicon compound having a hydrolyzable functional group; and a silica particle having an average primary particle diameter of 5 to 300 nm or a specific surface area of 10 to 600 m2/g.