Highly flexible, thermally stable, and dust-free fiber-embedded nanoporous Silica aerogel blanket for spacecraft applications

Authors

• Sapna Bakul Jadhav ^{1, 2}
• Arwa Makki ³
• Dina Hajjar ³
• Pradip Bhikaji Sarawade * ¹

1. Department of Physics, University of Mumbai, Kalina, Mumbai-400098, India.
2. SDSM College, Palghar-401404, University of Mumbai, India.
3. University of Jeddah, Collage of Science, Department of Biochemistry-80327, Jeddah, KSA.

Abstract

The highly lightweight and thermal insulator polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped fiber-embedded silica aerogel blankets was prepared with different types of fibers. The performances of PVA-doped silica aerogel blankets were compared. The silica aerogel blankets were prepared by integrating different fibers with encapsulated the PVA during the aging process. The synergic effect of PVA doping-derived silica aerogel blankets on the thermal conductivity, surface physical characteristics and young modulus were investigated. Consequences revealed that PVA-encapsulated blankets could diminish the thermal conductivity, porosity, and density of the aerogel blanket. The prepared blankets have shown further properties intensely without significant reduction. Experimental outcomes exhibited the properties of improvement in thermal conductivity (in the range of 0.023-0.035 W/m.K), density (in the range of 0.051 – 0.118 g/cm3), and Young Modulus regarding the pure silica aerogel. The prepared PVA-based aerogel blanket has prospective in various sectors such as the production of spacecraft apparel, military jackets, clothes for fire-fighting and hilly areas people from low-temperature protection.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Ambient Pressure Drying
• Dust-Free Silica Aerogel Blanket
• Nanoporous
• Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Encapsulation
• Thermal Insulator
• Mechanical Robust.

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