Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications
The inclusion of different fillers in silica aerogels reinforced by a reticulated polyurethane skeleton, allows for the development of a strategy to obtain composites with superior characteristics. Different fillers (TiO2, GO, SiC) and contents (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%) were explored, analyzing their...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Composites Part C: Open Access |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000179 |
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| author | Beatriz Merillas Cláudio M.R. Almeida Tomás Enrique Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Luisa Durães |
| author_facet | Beatriz Merillas Cláudio M.R. Almeida Tomás Enrique Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Luisa Durães |
| author_sort | Beatriz Merillas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The inclusion of different fillers in silica aerogels reinforced by a reticulated polyurethane skeleton, allows for the development of a strategy to obtain composites with superior characteristics. Different fillers (TiO2, GO, SiC) and contents (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%) were explored, analyzing their effects on the porous structures, mechanical stiffness and thermal conductivity of the composites. These exhibited low densities, reduced shrinkage, and high specific surface areas of approximately 550 m2/g. The incorporated fillers were homogeneously dispersed, leading to a general decrease in the mean pore size. Despite observing a slight reduction in the elastic modulus with respect to the non-doped composite, the benefits of this strategy are twofold; the composites can withstand strains above 80 % without breaking, significantly improving the mechanical stability when compared to non-reinforced silica aerogels, and while achieving high resilience. Additionally, enhanced thermal insulating performance was found for some materials. After analyzing the heat transfer contributions, the optimum particle contents for an improved thermal insulation were identified (1.0 wt.% TiO2 and 0.2 wt.% SiC), leading to an effective reduction of the radiation term and reaching overall reductions of 10 and 6.5 % at 100 °C. Therefore, the silica aerogel-based composites herein produced represent a step forward in their usability and versatility for cutting-edge applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb64645a04c74456a619f4bb9e8e4f94 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-6820 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Composites Part C: Open Access |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb64645a04c74456a619f4bb9e8e4f942025-08-20T02:15:30ZengElsevierComposites Part C: Open Access2666-68202025-03-011610057310.1016/j.jcomc.2025.100573Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applicationsBeatriz Merillas0Cláudio M.R. Almeida1Tomás Enrique Gómez Álvarez-Arenas2Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez3Luisa Durães4Cellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; University of Coimbra, CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; BioEcoUVA Research Institute on Bioeconomy, University of Valladolid, Spain; Corresponding author.University of Coimbra, CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, PortugalInstituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información, CSIC, C/Serrano 144, 28006, Madrid, SpainCellular Materials Laboratory (CellMat), Condensed Matter Physics Department, Faculty of Science, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, Paseo de Belén 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; BioEcoUVA Research Institute on Bioeconomy, University of Valladolid, SpainUniversity of Coimbra, CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, PortugalThe inclusion of different fillers in silica aerogels reinforced by a reticulated polyurethane skeleton, allows for the development of a strategy to obtain composites with superior characteristics. Different fillers (TiO2, GO, SiC) and contents (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 wt.%) were explored, analyzing their effects on the porous structures, mechanical stiffness and thermal conductivity of the composites. These exhibited low densities, reduced shrinkage, and high specific surface areas of approximately 550 m2/g. The incorporated fillers were homogeneously dispersed, leading to a general decrease in the mean pore size. Despite observing a slight reduction in the elastic modulus with respect to the non-doped composite, the benefits of this strategy are twofold; the composites can withstand strains above 80 % without breaking, significantly improving the mechanical stability when compared to non-reinforced silica aerogels, and while achieving high resilience. Additionally, enhanced thermal insulating performance was found for some materials. After analyzing the heat transfer contributions, the optimum particle contents for an improved thermal insulation were identified (1.0 wt.% TiO2 and 0.2 wt.% SiC), leading to an effective reduction of the radiation term and reaching overall reductions of 10 and 6.5 % at 100 °C. Therefore, the silica aerogel-based composites herein produced represent a step forward in their usability and versatility for cutting-edge applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000179Silica aerogelsPolyurethane foamInfrared opacifiersCompositesThermal insulationHeat transfer by radiation |
| spellingShingle | Beatriz Merillas Cláudio M.R. Almeida Tomás Enrique Gómez Álvarez-Arenas Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pérez Luisa Durães Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications Composites Part C: Open Access Silica aerogels Polyurethane foam Infrared opacifiers Composites Thermal insulation Heat transfer by radiation |
| title | Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications |
| title_full | Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications |
| title_short | Enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high-temperature applications |
| title_sort | enhanced thermal insulation performance of silica aerogel composites through infrared opacifier integration for high temperature applications |
| topic | Silica aerogels Polyurethane foam Infrared opacifiers Composites Thermal insulation Heat transfer by radiation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000179 |
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