Pore Structure and Mechanical Properties of Poly(methylsilsesquioxane) Aerogels

Organic-inorganic hybrid aerogels have been prepared by an acid/base two-step sol-gel reaction utilizing urea and surfactant. Polycondensation of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) is promoted by the hydrolysis of urea, and the hydrophobicity of condensates is weakened by adequate cationic or nonionic su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2011-01, Vol.18 (3), p.32001-4
Main Authors: Kanamori, K, Hayase, G, Nakanishi, K, Hanada, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerogels
Bulk density
Cationic
Cations
Crosslinking
Density
Formability
Hydrophobicity
Light transmittance
Mechanical properties
Networks
Silicon dioxide
Sol-gel processes
Surfactants
Ureas
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Summary:Organic-inorganic hybrid aerogels have been prepared by an acid/base two-step sol-gel reaction utilizing urea and surfactant. Polycondensation of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) is promoted by the hydrolysis of urea, and the hydrophobicity of condensates is weakened by adequate cationic or nonionic surfactant. Aerogels with low bulk density (∼ 0.13 g cm−3) and high visible light transmittance (∼ 89 % at 550 nm through 10 mm-thick sample) are obtained. The resultant hybrid aerogels show high deformability and subsequent spring-back upon uniaxial compression owing to the lower cross-linking density and residual silanol density compared to silica, and to the presence of hydrophobic methyl groups in the network. Additional aging of as-prepared wet gels in water improved mechanical properties in the case of cationic surfactant system.
ISSN:1757-899X
1757-8981
1757-899X
DOI:10.1088/1757-899X/18/3/032001