Thermal shock protection with scalable heat-absorbing aerogels.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39164288.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-51530-3 and PMC identifier 11336183.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Improving thermal insulation is vital for addressing thermal protection and energy efficiency challenges. Though silica aerogel has a record-low thermal conductivity at ambient pressure, its high production cost, due to its nanoscale porous structure, has hindered its widespread use. In this study, we introduce a cost-effective and mild method that enhances insulation by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into a micron-porous framework. With a thermal conductivity at 0.041 W m<sup>-1</sup>K<sup>-1</sup> on par with conventional insulation materials, this PCMs aerogel presents additional advantages for thermal protection from transient high-temperature loads by effectively delaying heat propagation through heat absorption. Moreover, the PCMs aerogel remains stable under cyclic deformation and heating up to 300 °C and is self-extinguishing in the presence of fire. Our approach offers a promising alternative for affordable insulation materials with potential wide applications in thermal protection and energy conservation areas.