Carbon/ZrO₂ aerogel composite microtube superfoam

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Thermal Engineering

Background:

• High-performance thermal insulation materials are crucial for various applications.
• Microstructures, particularly tubular ones, enhance thermal insulation properties.
• Developing advanced materials with improved thermal protection is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare novel carbon/ZrO2 aerogel composite microtube superfoams.
• To investigate the thermal insulation and protection properties of these materials.
• To explore the influence of microstructure on material performance.

Main Methods:

• Vacuum filtration and high-temperature carbonization were employed for material synthesis.
• Cellulose microtubules were coated with ZrO2 aerogel precursor solution.
• Citric acid was used to facilitate the conversion to ZrO2 alcohol gel shells.

Main Results:

• The synthesized carbon/ZrO2 aerogel composite microtube superfoam demonstrated excellent thermal protection.
• The material exhibited low thermal conductivity (0.040 ± 0.001 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) and low density.
• High ablation resistance was observed, with an 84.33% residual rate after 3600 seconds of butane flame exposure.

Conclusions:

• The carbon/ZrO2 aerogel composite microtube superfoam is a promising high-performance thermal insulation material.
• The tubular microstructure and ZrO2 aerogel shells contribute to superior thermal and mechanical properties.
• The preparation method allows for controlled micromorphology and enhanced material performance.