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SANS study of hybrid silica aerogels under “in situ” uniaxial compression

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Abstract

We have modified the inorganic silica network of aerogels with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a hydroxyl-terminated polymer, to obtain an organic modified silicate (ORMOSIL). Reactions were assisted by high-power ultrasounds. The resulting gels were dried under supercritical conditions of the solvent to obtain a monolithic sono-aerogel. The mechanical behaviour of these aerogels can be tuned from brittle to rubbery as a function of the organic polymer content. In order to determine the links between the mechanical behaviour and modifications made to the microstructure, SANS (small-angle neutron scattering) experiments were carried out. To measure the intensities under “in situ” uniaxial compression of the aerogel, a specific sample-holder was built. Under uniaxial compression the 2D-diagrams were significantly anisotropic (butterfly pattern), indicating the rearrangement of the polymer. The form factor of these aerogels is described well by two correlation lengths, small microporous silica clusters surrounded by entangled polymer chains of 6 nm average size (blobs), which form a larger secondary level of agglomerates governed by the “frozen-in” elastic constraints.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported in Spain by Project MAT2005-1583 of the CICyT. SANS measurements were made at the HMI, Germany, thanks to the European Commission, under the 6th Framework Programme through the Key Action: Strengthening the European Research Area, Research Infrastructures Contract no.: RII3-CT-2003-505925 (NMI3 no. 1150). Authors belong to the Research Group TEP-115 of the Junta de Andalucía.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. Física Materia Condensada, Facultad Ciencias, Universidad de Cadiz, Apartado 40, Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain

    N. de la Rosa-Fox, V. Morales-Flórez & J. A. Toledo-Fernández

  2. Dpto. Física Aplicada, CASEM, Universidad de Cádiz, Avda, República Saharaui, s/n, Puerto Real, Cádiz, 11510, Spain

    M. Piñero

  3. Dpto. Física Materia Condensada, Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales, Avda, Reina Mercedes s/n, Sevilla, 41012, Spain

    L. Esquivias

  4. SF2, Hahn Meitner Institut, Glienicker str. 100, Berlin, 14109, Germany

    U. Keiderling

Authors
  1. N. de la Rosa-Fox
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  2. V. Morales-Flórez
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  3. J. A. Toledo-Fernández
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  4. M. Piñero
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  5. L. Esquivias
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  6. U. Keiderling
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Correspondence to N. de la Rosa-Fox.

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Rosa-Fox, N.d.l., Morales-Flórez, V., Toledo-Fernández, J.A. et al. SANS study of hybrid silica aerogels under “in situ” uniaxial compression. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 45, 245–250 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1686-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1686-3

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