Hydrophobic aerogel materials
View Patent ↗The present disclosure provides an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which also has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Also provided is a method of preparing an aerogel composition which is durable and easy to handle, which has favorable performance in aqueous environments, and which has favorable combustion and self-heating properties. Further provided is a method of improving the hydrophobicity, the liquid water uptake, the heat of combustion, or the onset of thermal decomposition temperature of an aerogel composition.
1. A reinforced aerogel composition comprising a silica-based framework, a reinforcement material, and at least one hydrophobic-bound silicon; wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has the following properties:
i) a liquid water uptake of 40 wt % or less;
ii) an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of 515° C. or higher;
iii) a heat of combustion of 717 cal/g or less; and
iv) a thermal conductivity of 40 mW/M*K or less.
2. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a fiber reinforcement material.
3. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a sheet of fiber reinforcement material.
4. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a material other than a fiber reinforcement material.
5. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement material comprises a sheet of material other than a sheet of fiber reinforcement material.
6. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 2 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has the following properties:
ii) an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials between 515° C. and 635° C.;
iii) a heat of combustion between 265 cal/g and 717 cal/g; and
iv) a thermal conductivity between 15 mW/M*K and 40 mW/M*K.
7. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 6 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a density of 0.40 g/cm3 or less.
8. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 6 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a thermal conductivity between 15 mW/M*K and 30 mW/M*K.
9. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a heat of combustion of between 265 cal/g and 600 cal/g.
10. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a heat of combustion of between 265 cal/g and 550 cal/g.
11. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a heat of combustion of between 265 cal/g and 500 cal/g.
12. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a heat of combustion of between 265 cal/g and 450 cal/g.
13. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of between 525° C. and 635° C.
14. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of between 550° C. and 635° C.
15. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of between 575° C. and 635° C.
16. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of between 600° C. and 635° C.
17. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has an onset of thermal decomposition of hydrophobic organic materials of between 615° C. and 635° C.
18. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic organic content in the aerogel composition is between 2 wt % and 10 wt %.
19. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic organic content in the aerogel composition is between 2 wt % and 8 wt %.
20. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic organic content in the aerogel composition is between 2 wt % and 6 wt %.
21. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition has a ratio of T 1-2 :T 3 of between about 0.01 and 0.4, and a ratio of Q 1-3 :Q 4 of between about 0.1 and 1.5.
22. The reinforced aerogel composition of claim 8 , wherein the reinforced aerogel composition is an aerogel blanket composition.