Hydrophobic Flexible Silica Aerogels Felts Fabricated by Ambient Pressure Drying

Abstract

Hydrophobic flexible silica aerogels felts were fabricated successfully by two-steps sol-gel process via ambient pressure drying. First of all, the sol with various pH values was obtained from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as silicon source, hydrochloric acid/aqueous ammonia ethanol solution as catalysts. Then glass fiber felts was incorporated into the sol to increase the mechanical properties of silica aerogel. After the completion of solvent exchange and surface modification by using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS)/n-hexane solution, the gel felts were dried under ambient pressure. The samples show excellent hydrophobic properties.