• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.113-122
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the characterization of cadmium adsorption by cellulose hydrogel and aerogel. Hydrogel and aerogel were made from ashless pulp dissolved in alkali hydroxide-urea aqueous solution and manufactured in film and bead types. After regeneration of cellulose, hydrogel went through the process of substitution of organic solvent and freeze-dry in order to make aerogel. SEM was used to analyze the microstructure of hydrogel and aerogel. Experiment was conducted in various concentrations and pH conditions to find out the characteristic of cadmium adsorption. After that, EDS was used to identify existence and distribution of cadmium in hydrogel and aerogel. The result from comparisons of cadmium adsorption shows that bead type aerogel has the maximum cadmium adsorption and film type hydrogel has the minimum cadmium adsorption.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.15-20
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• 2016

In an effort to overcome the weakness of aerogel, polymer aerogels have been prepared by copolymerizing the different types of monomers through sol-gel process. Polymerizing the successive phase of a high internal phase emulsion, which has interconnected porous structure, porous polymer aerogel can be manufactured. In this paper, we use the styrene/divinylbenzene chain as a basic monomer structure, and additionally use 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (2-EHMA) or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) as monomers for distinguishing the visible mechanical properties of synthesized polymer aerogel. We can observe the different tendency of polymer aerogels by kinds of monomer or ratio. Flexibility and microstructure can be changed by the types of monomer. EHA polymer aerogel shows high flexibility and thin microstructure, and EHMA polymer aerogel shows high hardness and thick microstructure. EHA/EHMA polymer aerogel shows the intermediate nature between them. By utilizing the mechanical properties of three types of polymer aerogels to adequate situation or environment, polymer aerogels could be used as drug agent, ion exchange resin, oil filter and insulator, and so on.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2022

Since nanoporous silica aerogel was first synthesized in 1931, its potential as an ultra-lightweight superinsulation material has been steadily attracting attention. Silica aerogel is the best thermal insulation material to date. However, the potential applications of this lightweight material have so far been hindered by its inherent fragibility and brittleness arising from its ultra-porous nature. Although the monolithic form of silica aerogel has the best ultra-lightweight superinsulation properties, it cannot be used in this form. Instead it is used in the form of powders, particles, and blankets. However, these forms still have shortcomings. Silica aerogel is most widely applied in the form of a fiber-reinforced aerogel blanket, but this form is likely to generate dust when handled. Although silica aerogel particles have been proven to be non-toxic to humans, dust formation remains a major barrier to the widespread application of silica aerogel blankets. This paper will investigate the unique properties of silica aerogel and determine what fields it can be used in or potentially be used in due to its unique properties. In addition, we will review the important advances in silica aerogel synthesis technology and its commercialization so far, and then consider the problems that exist for its widespread commercialization in the future and how to overcome them.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.413-418
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• 2017

In the present study, silica-aerogel-polyurethane foams were synthesized to improve the mechanical characteristics and insulation performance of the polyurethane foam applied to a liquefied natural gas carrier at a cryogenic temperature of $-163^{\circ}C$. A silica-aerogel-polyurethane foam bulk was prepared using a homogenizer by varying the weight ratio of the silica aerogel (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt%), while maintaining the contents of the polyol, isocyanate, and blowing agent constant. Compression tests were performed at room and cryogenic temperatures to compare the mechanical properties of the silica-aerogel polyurethane foams. The internal temperature of the universal testing machine was maintained through the cryogenic chamber. The thermal conductivity of the silica-aerogel-polyurethane foam was measured using a heat flow meter to confirm the insulation performance. In addition, the effect of the silica aerogels on the cells of the polyurethane foam was investigated using FE-SEM and FTIR. From the experimental results, the 1 wt% silica aerogel polyurethane foam showed outstanding mechanical and thermal performances.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2011

Hydrophobic silica aerogel beads with low thermal conductivity and high porosity were prepared using a cost-effective sodium silicate as a silica source via an ambient-pressure drying process. Monolithic wet gels were first prepared by adjusting pH (~5) of a diluted sodium silicate solution. The silica aerogel beads (0.5~20 mm) were manufactured by breaking the wet gel monoliths under a simultaneous solvent exchange/surface modification process and an ambient-pressure drying process without using co-precursors or templates. Dried silica aerogel beads exhibit a comparable porosity ($593m^2/g$ of surface area, 34.9 nm of pore size, and $4.4cm^3/g$ of pore volume) to that of the aerogel powder prepared in the same conditions. Thermal conductivity of the silica aerogel beads (19.8 mW/mK at $20^{\circ}C$) is also identical to the aerogel powder.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.13 no.spc1
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• pp.145-148
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• 2012

Spherical silica aerogel powders were fabricated via an emulsion polymerization method from a water glass. A water-in-oil emulsion, in which droplets of a silicic acid solution are emulsified with span 80 (surfactant) in n-hexane, was produced by a high power homogenizer. After gelation, the surface of the spherical silica hydrogels was modified using a TMCS (trimethylchlorosilane)/n-hexane solution followed by solvent exchange from water to n-hexane. Hydrophobic silica wet gel droplets were dried at 80 ℃ under ambient pressure. A perfect spherical silica aerogel powder between1 to 12 ㎛ in diameter was obtained and its size can be controlled by mixing speed. The tapping density, pore volume, and BET surface area of the silica aerogel powder were approximately 0.08 g·cm-3, 3.5 ㎤·g-1 and 742 ㎡·g-1, respectively.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

Silica aerogel with ultra low density and high porosity has been focused on versatile application due to its fascinating properties. Ambient drying process of waterglass, in this study was researched to fabricate a crack-free monolith body in the point view of cost effective way. Wet gel was obtained by removing of $Na^{+}$ ions in waterglass, which contains 8 wt% of $SiO_{2}$. Xylene, which has a low vapor pressure, was used as a solution substitutor to prevent the formation a cracks during drying. Various surface modifiers like as hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSZ), trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), methyltriethoxylsilane (MTES), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES) were used in order to improve hydrophobicity of the waterglass Silica aerogel. Some physical properties of the surface modified aerogels were investigated by FT-IR, TGA, BET and SEM. Hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of Silica aerogel is attributed to the Si-OH bond and the non-polar C-H bond groups on the surface of aerogel. Crack-free waterglass aerogel with >90 % of porosity, 17 nm of pore size and <0.15 $g/cm^{3}$ of density was prepared. HMDSZ and TMCS are effective as a surface modifier

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.335-339
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• 2014

The studies on the characteristics of composite of silica aerogel and pulps were carried out. The composite was manufactured by mixing the paste of silica aerogel and pulps and analyzed by SEM. Using the impedence tube, the sound absorption measurement was investigated. The maximum value of sound absorption coefficient of this composite was obtained in the range of 900 Hz. It was found that the composite of silica aerogel and pulps could be a new sound absorbent because of high absorption capacity and durability which was due to hydrophobic effect on the surface of the composite.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.191-195
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• 2015

To improve its textural properties as a support for platinum catalyst, carbon aerogel was chemically activated with KOH as a chemical agent. Carbon-supported platinum catalyst was subsequently prepared using the prepared carbon supports(carbon aerogel(CA), activated carbon aerogel(ACA), and commercial activated carbon(AC)) by an incipient wetness impregnation. The prepared carbon-supported platinum catalysts were applied to decalin dehydrogenation for hydrogen production. Both initial hydrogen evolution rate and total hydrogen evolution amount were increased in the order of Pt/CA < Pt/AC < Pt/ACA. This means that the chemical activation process served to improve the catalytic activity of carbon-supported platinum catalyst in this reaction. The high surface area and the well-developed mesoporous structure of activated carbon aerogel obtained from the activation process facilitated the high dispersion of platinum in the Pt/ACA catalyst. Therefore, it is concluded that the enhanced catalytic activity of Pt/ACA catalyst in decalin dehydrogenation was due to the high platinum surface area that originated from the high dispersion of platinum.

• 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.