Thermally insulating magnesium borate foams with controllable structures

In this study, a manageable foam-casting technique for preparing novel magnesium borate foams (MBFs) with highly controllable performances is presented. MBFs were prepared using MgO and boric acid as the primary materials, with different amounts of foaming agents, thickening agents, and solid slurry contents. The results showed that the MBFs possess compressive strengths (0.74-11.32 MPa), low thermal conductivities (0.171-0.976 W/(m.K) at 200-800 ?C), and high porosities (51.78-80.70%). Therefore, they can serve as novel architectural materials for heat preservation and partial load-bearing applications.

Automated summary

In this study, a manageable foam-casting technique was used to prepare novel magnesium borate foams (MBFs) with highly controllable performances. The MBFs exhibited high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and high porosity, making them suitable for architectural heat preservation and partial load-bearing applications.