A novel glass fiber − flexible silicone aerogel composite with improvement of thermal insulation, hydrophobicity and mechanical properties

Abstract

Glass fiber is used as an inexpensive insulation material in construction, energy and aerospace applications, but brittleness and a significant reduction in insulation efficiency under humid conditions are obvious drawbacks. By impregnating the silica-based aerogel with glass fiber, the flexible aerogel can be observed growing attached to the fiber inside the composite, and filling the large pores between fibers and thus improving the overall performance of the material. The composite exhibits a superhydrophobicity (152°), good flexibility and strong mechanical stability. The composite shows a low thermal conductivity of 0.031 Wm^-1K⁻¹ and achieved a temperature difference of Δ81.1 °C in hot plate experiments at temperatures of 150 °C. This glass fiber − flexible aerogel composite can provide excellent thermal isolation and protection for industrial equipment in complex environments.