Aerogel-incorporated concrete: An experimental study

Lightweight concrete can be prepared by replacing the normal aggregate of concrete, either partly or totally, with lightweight materials. In this work, by incorporating silica aerogel particles into concrete matrix, we have successfully prepared a lightweight and thermal insulating concrete material, aerogel-incorporated concrete (AIC) [The term “aerogel-incorporated concrete (AIC)” is used in this work to describe a mortar or cement based material containing aerogel particles.], with a density of ∼1.0 g/cm3, a thermal conductivity of ∼0.26 W/mK, and a compressive strength of ∼8.3 MPa at an aerogel content of 60 vol.%. Moreover, the density, thermal conductivity, and the mechanical properties of AIC can be controlled by varying the aerogel content. Scanning electron microscopy observations reveal that the aerogel particles are stable during the hydration of cementitious materials, suggesting possibilities of combining aerogel and concrete materials for construction applications.