Journal
JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
Volume 357, Issue 10, Pages 2059-2062Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2011.02.008
Keywords
Aerogel; Chlorotrimethylsilane; Mechanical properties; Sinter
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Silica aerogels were prepared through an acid-base process and surface modified with chlorotrimethylsilane. This novel application of a common non-crosslinking surface modification to improve mechanical properties allows the treated aerogels to deform plastically to compressive strains greater than 80% without macroscopic damage. This improvement in mechanical properties remains after heating in air at 500 degrees C for 3 h, as do residual organic groups. Heating at 700 degrees C for 1 h removes all organics and the aerogel behaves similar to the unmodified control. The treated aerogels also exhibit a greater resistance to sintering. Nitrogen adsorption measurements show a reduction in the number of micropores with surface modification. It is concluded that the organic monolayer increases the ductility of the silica network by filling and strengthening surface micropores that serve as crack initiators, and that these organics remain effective at elevated temperatures. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available