Study on Preparation and Thermal Insulation Properties of Silica Aerogel and Fiber-Based Thermal Insulation Materials

Deep underground mines commonly face the problem of high-temperature thermal damage, and using insulation materials on tunnel walls is an effective method to isolate heat sources from the source. In order to improve the comfort of underground operation and reduce energy consumption, this research aims to develop a pot process to prepare a green and efficient thermal insulation material. Porous silica aerogel and corn straw cellulose are used as raw materials. First, the influence of each component on the material performance is explored through a single-factor experiment. Then, the Box-Behnken experiment is designed using the response surface method. With dry density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity as indicators, the interactions of three factors, fiber content, fiber length, and aerogel content, are systematically analyzed and optimized. The final thermal insulation test shows that the thermal insulation temperature difference of the optimal formula group is as high as 8.7 °C under heating conditions of 75 °C. With the synergistic porous structure constructed by cellulose and aerogel, the thermal conductivity of this material is significantly lower than those of similar materials, showing better thermal insulation performance and environmental adaptability.