• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.701-710
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• 2009

This study was conducted to develop excellent insole with good thermal insulation using new materials. We investigated that aerogel/fiber composite can be used as padding materials of shoes by comparing surface shape, moisture regain, water vapor permeability, thermal insulation and compression rate of insole materials tried with nonwoven fabric padding materials and insole sold in market. The results are as follows. Surface shapes were shown that the most appropriate material for sealing aerogel/fiber composite was high density fabric as per size of particle of aerogel. Moisture regain of aerogel/fabric composite was better than nonwoven fabric padding samples. However, when compared to insole sold in market, its moisture regain was worse than those of insole merchandises. Water vapor permeability was higher in material padded with nonwoven fabric than materials padded with aerogel/fiber composite in all three kinds of sealing fabrics. Thermal conductivity of aerogel/fabric composite was lower than nonwoven fabric material regardless of sealing fabrics. Thermal insulation of aerogel/fiber composite was higher than padding material of nonwoven fabric regardless of sealing fabrics. Compression rate of nonwoven (SP1) was higher than that of aerogel/fiber composite (SP2). Compressive elastic recovery rate of SP1 was also higher than that of SP2, which its compression rate and compressive elastic recovery rate were both poor. As the above result, ultra porous aerogel/fiber composite were proved to be material of good thermal insulation with lower thermal conductivity and also compression rate was proved to be low. Therefore, we can say that aerogel/fiber composite have high possibility to be used as insole materials for cold winter shoes requiring good thermal insulation protection.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2023

Aerogel is the most excellent insulation material known to date, but it is inflexible and has very low strength. A blanket containing aerogel in a nonwoven fabric or fiber is currently the most practical form. However, aerogel blankets are not yet widely used because they cannot avoid dust generation when handled, lack flexibility, and can possibly deform. In this study, vacuum treatment, surface treatment, and composite materialization technology were applied to solve this problem, and some prototypes were also made. If an aerogel blanket is wrapped in an aluminum sheet, sealed at the four ends, and vacuumed, it can become a material with better insulation than the blanket itself. An aerogel molded body can be made by coating the aerogel blanket with resin and treating the surface. If the aerogel blanket is multi-packed and laminated with resin or fiber in multiple layers to make it a composite material, it can be used as a flexible insulation material. In particular, this composite material, which utilizes a Teflon membrane with controlled pores, is breathable and waterproof, so it can be used for clothing. Prototypes of insoles for winter boots and outdoor roll mats were also produced using aerogel blanket resin and fiber composites. These prototypes showed low thermal conductivity of less than 20 mW m^-1K^-1, with good flexibility and durability.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.336-340
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• 2020

In this study, carbon aerogels (CA) were prepared by sol-gel polycondensation of resorcinol and furfural in isopropanol using hexamethylenetetramine as a catalyst, and then directly drying the organic gels under isopropanol freeze-drying conditions, followed by carbonization under a nitrogen atmosphere. The preparation conditions of the CA were explored by changing the mole ratio of resorcinol to furfural. The effect of the preparation conditions on the pore structure of the CA was studied by nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The characteristics of the CA were studied by scanning and transition electron microscopy, and infrared spectrometry. The accessibility of pores and performance of the CA as an electrode in electric double layer capacitors were also electrochemically investigated. As a result, BET surface area and specific capacitance increased with the molar ratio of resorcinol to catalyst (R/C) ratio; the maximum values of 765 ㎡/g and 132 F/g were achieved at the R/C ratio of 200, respectively. Consequently, it was confirmed that increasing the R/C ratio increased the average pore size of the CA electrode, which improved the rate capability of the system.