Aerogels were first introduced by Kistler, who synthesized a series of aerogels such as silica aerogels, metal oxide aerogels, and organic aerogels. They are lightweight and porous materials formed from gels in which the liquid is replaced by gas without collapsing the gels, so there is no change in size. The structure of aerogels contains very little solid matter, with up to 99.8% of the structure consisting of nothing but air. This unique composition gives aerogels an almost ghostly appearance, thus, they are often referred to as "frozen smoke". At present, aerogels are made into various aerogel composites that are widely used in various fields. At Alfa Chemistry, We have a wide range of aerogels or aerogel composites for you to choose from.
Synthesis
In general, the two most important steps in aerogel synthesis are network formation and drying. Sometimes, in order to obtain some special properties, aerogels are modified by some specific methods after drying.
There are two principal possibilities for network formation of aerogels:
- Solid gels are dissolved and the resulting sol (colloid) reaggregates under different conditions.
- Sol particles are formed by chemical reactions from molecular precursors. Most aerogel syntheses follow this route.
There are three commonly used methods of aerogel drying: freeze drying, ambient pressure drying, and supercritical drying. These methods not only preserve the pore structure of wet gels but also avoid their shrinkage.
Features
One of the best-known and most useful physical properties of aerogels is their incredible lightness. The density of aerogels ranges between 0.0011 to 0.5 g/cm3, with a typical average of about 0.020 g/cm3. In addition to their lightweight, aerogels have other excellent properties, including but not limited to the following.
Our Products
Alfa Chemistry in an expert in aerogel field. Over the years, we have been committed to providing our customers with broad and high quality aerogels to drive the practical application of aerogels in various fields. You can click on the link and choose the product you need. If you do not find what you need, please contact us. We also offer product customization according to your detailed requirements.
Please kindly note that our products and services are for research use only.
