Preparation of Polystyrene/SiO2 Composite Aerogel Microspheres
Zenghui Qian1, Yangyang Yu1, Wenjing Chen1
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210037, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 14, 2026
Summary
This study developed strong, hydrophobic silica aerogel microspheres using polymer reinforcement and thermal treatment. These advanced materials offer enhanced mechanical stability and thermal insulation for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Silica aerogel microspheres show promise as fillers in various materials.
- Improving their mechanical strength is essential for practical use.
- Existing methods often lack sufficient strength enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel hydrophobic polymer-reinforced silica aerogel microspheres.
- To enhance the strength and stability of silica aerogel microspheres.
- To investigate the impact of polymer reinforcement and thermal treatment on material properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized water glass as a precursor, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as a modifier, and styrene as a crosslinking agent.
- Employed short-term thermal post-treatment for further strength enhancement.
- Investigated the effects of varying polystyrene coating levels, crosslinker dosage, and heat treatment duration.
Main Results:
- Optimized silica aerogel microspheres (Sample A-6) achieved a specific surface area of 604.8 m²/g.
- Exhibited low thermal conductivity of 0.030 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹.
- Demonstrated excellent hydrophobicity and superior mechanical stability.
Conclusions:
- Hydrophobic polymer reinforcement and thermal post-treatment effectively enhance silica aerogel microsphere strength.
- The developed microspheres possess a desirable combination of high surface area, low thermal conductivity, hydrophobicity, and mechanical robustness.
- These findings pave the way for advanced applications of silica aerogels in demanding environments.
