Flexible silica aerogel based on methyltrimethoxysilane with improved mechanical property

Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) based silica aerogels with excellent mechanical properties have been synthesized through sol-gel process under ambient pressure drying. The effect of water/ethanol mixed solvent system on the mechanical properties of silica aerogels was studied. The surfactant was used to promote the mixing of the MTMS-derived species and water in solvent. Low ethanol in the solvent system helps to form nano-scale and uniformly distributed pore and particle structure. And the increasing EtOH caused large clusters to microns in size. Surface modification makes sure that more methyl groups attached on the particle surface which repels each other when pressed. Low EtOH in the solvent system and surface modification results in higher reversible shrinkage and Young's Modulus.