Mechanical properties of milimetric silica aerogel particles produced through evaporative drying: A coupled experimental and discrete element approach

X-ray Tomography Coupled with Finite Elements, A Fast Method to Design Aerogel Composites and Prove Their Superinsulation Experimentally

“…The 3D reconstructed volumes are obtained by high resolution X-ray microtomography. The general principle of this technique can be found in [ 49 ], its application to porous material at temperature in [ 50 ], and the way it helps understand aerogel composite mechanical behavior in [ 11 ]. Two different setups with complementary resolutions are used so as to obtain the tomogram required for computations: a standard laboratory tomograph (MATEIS, INSA-Lyon), and the line ID19 of a synchrotron radiation tomograph located at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble (France).…”

“…Formulation trends to optimize these SIMs available in the literature comprise: (i) adding reinforcing fibers within aerogel slurry [ 11 ]; (ii) adding translucent polymer sheets on each side of the SIM; (iii) adding a binder [ 12 ]; (iv) and adding an opacifier [ 13 , 14 ]. Since the best additive materials have conductivities 10 (organic) to 40 times (mineral) higher than aerogel, they should be used in very low volume fraction, otherwise conductivity is impaired.…”

“…Recent experimental work has focused on industrial demands such as three-dimensional aerosol printing [ 3 ] and designing superinsulation for transportation [ 40 ]. Three-dimensional X-ray tomography has been used to understand the occurrence of shrinkage cracks during synthesis in fiber aerogel mats [ 37 , 41 ] and during the service life of aerogel boards [ 11 ]. Aerogel grain brittleness and stack rebound while compacting aerogel granules were imaged and quantified [ 42 ].…”