Simplified fabrication of transparent, custom-shaped, and cellular aerogel composites

M.F. Bertino
Virginia Commonwealth University,
United States

Keywords: aerogel composites, building materials

Summary:

Aerogels are promising candidates for thermal insulating materials. However, they have not found widespread application because of cumbersome processing, limited transparency and mechanical fragility. Our group has devised several techniques to deal with all these issues. In this talk, production of custom-shaped aerogels with minimal processsing, production of mechanically strong aerogels with transparency comparable to that of native aerogels, and production of cellular aerogel composites will be described.