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Physico-chemical properties of ambiently dried sodium silicate based aerogels catalyzed with various acids

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Abstract

Experimental results on the physico-chemical properties of ambiently dried sodium silicate based aerogels catalyzed with various acids are reported. The aerogels were prepared by hydrolysis and polycondensation of sodium silicate followed by subsequent washings, surface chemical modification and ambient pressure drying using 10 various acid catalysts consisting of strong and weak acids. The strength and concentration of acids have the major effect on the gelation of sol and hence the physico-chemical properties of the silica aerogels. Strong acids such as HCl, HNO3 and H2SO4 resulted in shrunk (70–95%) aerogels whereas weak acids such as citric and tartaric acids resulted in less shrunk (34–50%) aerogels. The physical properties of silica aerogels were studied by measuring bulk density, volume shrinkage (%), porosity (%), pore volume, thermal conductivity, contact angle with water, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo Gravimetric-Differential Thermal (TG-DT) analyses and N2 adsorption–desorption BET surface analyzer. The best quality silica aerogels in terms of low density (0.086 g/cm3), low volume shrinkage (34%), high porosity (95%), low thermal conductivity (0.09 W/m K) and hydrophobic (148°) were obtained for molar ratio of Na2SiO3:H2O:citric acid:TMCS at 1:146.67:0.72:9.46 with 20 min gelation time. The resulting aerogels exhibited the thermal stability up to around 420 °C.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, Government of India, for the financial support for this work through a major research project on “Aerogels” (No. SR/S2/CMR-67/2006). Dr. A. Parvathy Rao and Uzma K. H. Bangi are highly thankful to the DST for providing the Research Associate (RA) and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

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  1. Air Glass Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, Maharashtra, India

    Uzma K. H. Bangi, A. Parvathy Rao, H. Hirashima & A. Venkateswara Rao

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  1. Uzma K. H. Bangi
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  2. A. Parvathy Rao
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  3. H. Hirashima
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  4. A. Venkateswara Rao
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Correspondence to A. Venkateswara Rao.

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Bangi, U.K.H., Parvathy Rao, A., Hirashima, H. et al. Physico-chemical properties of ambiently dried sodium silicate based aerogels catalyzed with various acids. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 50, 87–97 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1887-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-008-1887-9

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