Preparation method of silica aerogel-containing blanket and silica aerogel-containing blanket prepared by using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for preparing silica aerogel-containing blankets are complex, economically inefficient, and require excessive use of organic solvents and surface modifiers, which hinders their commercialization due to high costs and environmental concerns, as well as low mechanical strength and high thermal conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing of a water glass solution, a polar organic solvent, and a silazane-based surface modifier to prepare a sol, followed by immersion and gelation of a base material, and subsequent drying, which omits the solvent substitution and surface modification steps, resulting in a hydrophobic silica aerogel with low thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conventional method of preparing silica aerogel-containing blanket is used (including solvent substitution and surface modification steps), then the silica aerogel achieves adequate hydrophobicity and insulation properties, but the process becomes complex, time-consuming, and economically inefficient with excessive use of organic solvents and surface modifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the solvent substitution step and surface modification step into a single integrated process. By adding a surface modifier to the alcohol solution during gelation, the hydrophobic modification occurs simultaneously with solvent substitution, eliminating the need for separate processing steps and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface modifier is introduced during the gelation stage rather than after gel formation. This preliminary action allows the modifier to be incorporated into the gel structure from the beginning, ensuring uniform distribution and reducing the need for subsequent intensive surface treatment steps.
2Reliability
If the conventional method with separate surface modification step is used, then the silica aerogel achieves adequate hydrophobicity, but the processing time and cost increase due to excessive use of organic solvents and surface modifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the solvent substitution step and surface modification step into a single integrated process. By adding a surface modifier to the alcohol solution during gelation, the hydrophobic modification occurs simultaneously with solvent substitution, eliminating the need for separate processing steps and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gelation process serves dual purposes: forming the aerogel structure and simultaneously incorporating the surface modifier for hydrophobic modification. This continuous process eliminates idle time between solvent substitution and surface modification, maintaining productive action throughout the entire gelation period.
3Ease of manufacture
If water glass is used as silica precursor instead of alkoxide, then the cost is reduced and safety is improved, but solvent substitution to organic solvent is essentially required which increases processing time and generates excessive wastewater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the solvent substitution step and surface modification step into a single integrated process. By adding a surface modifier to the alcohol solution during gelation, the hydrophobic modification occurs simultaneously with solvent substitution, eliminating the need for separate processing steps and reducing overall process complexity.
4Temperature
If silica aerogel is used in blanket form for heat insulation, then the thermal insulation properties are improved, but the mechanical strength remains low due to the porous structure requiring composite with base materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material by combining silica aerogel particles with a base material matrix. The base material provides mechanical strength and structural integrity, while the silica aerogel particles provide exceptional thermal insulation properties, achieving a synergistic effect where the composite outperforms the individual components.
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 approach allows for the efficient preparation of silica aerogel-containing blankets with reduced organic solvent and surface modifier usage, lowering processing time and costs, while achieving improved mechanical flexibility and thermal insulation properties.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a water glass solution, a polar organic solvent, and a silazane-based surface modifier to prepare a sol; preparing a silica gel-base material composite by immersion and gelation
Implementation Method 2
drying the silica gel-base material composite
Implementation Method 3
forming and including a hydrophobic silica aerogel having a high degree of hydrophobicity by the minimal use of a surface modifier
Implementation Method 4
mixing a water glass solution, a polar organic solvent, and a silazane-based surface modifier to prepare a sol
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a preparation method of a silica aerogel-containing blanket which includes mixing a water glass solution, a polar organic solvent, and a silazane-based surface modifier to prepare a sol, preparing a silica gel-base material composite by immersion and gelation of a base material for a blanket in the sol, and drying the silica gel-base material composite, and a silica aerogel-containing blanket prepared by using the preparation method. A silica aerogel-containing blanket having a high degree of hydrophobicity as well as excellent physical properties, particularly, low tap density, high porosity, and excellent mechanical flexibility can be prepared by the minimal use of a surface modifier without a surface modification step by the above method.