Preparation of highly efficient thermal insulating halloysite nanotubes/polyvinyl alcohol composite aerogel based on a simple freeze‐drying strategy

Abstract

The development of high‐performance energy‐saving insulation materials is significant for reducing building energy consumption and promoting carbon neutrality. Aerogels show great potential in energy‐saving insulation. However, their high preparation cost and poor mechanical properties limit their application. Here, based on a simple freeze‐drying strategy, a halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite aerogel is achieved via low‐cost and degradable industrial raw material. In particular, a simple process for changing the properties of HNTs/PVA composite aerogels by regulating the solid concentration. As a result, stable covalent cross‐linking and hydrogen bonding structure between HNTs and PVA, long‐range ordered pore structure with high porosity (97.6%), low density (0.12 g/cm3), and low thermal conductivity (44.333 mW/m K) endow the HNTs/PVA composite aerogel high compressive strength (3.33 MPa), lightweight, and highly efficient thermal insulation properties. This work offers an attractive material for building insulation and carbon neutral.

Environment friendly biomass composite aerogel with reinforced mechanical properties for thermal insulation and flame retardancy application

“…The density and thermal conductivity of the aerogel prepared in this study were compared with those of other aerogels and aerogel‐like materials reported in the literature. As shown in Figure 7C, CS/HAP aerogel exhibits excellent thermal insulation performance and low density compared to FHal/PI, HAP‐CNF, TFA, WPU, A5MMT5Ca, A5ATH5Ca, A5Kaolin5Ca, and MMT/CAP 28,46–50 . According to the properties studied, CS/HAP (1) exhibits the best comprehensive performance and thus, it was selected for subsequent studying and testing.…”

“…As shown in Figure 7C, CS/HAP aerogel exhibits excellent thermal insulation performance and low density compared to FHal/PI, HAP-CNF, TFA, WPU, A5MMT5Ca, A5ATH5Ca, A5Kaolin5Ca, and MMT/CAP. 28,[46][47][48][49][50] According to the properties studied, CS/HAP (1) exhibits the best comprehensive performance and thus, it was selected for subsequent studying and testing. As shown in Figure 7D, CS aerogel and CS/HAP (1) composite aerogel were placed on a 100 C heat source for infrared thermal imaging analysis.…”

“…In order to enhance the physical structure of composite aerogel, some inorganic nanofillers have been used to enhance the structural stability and thermal stability of the material. These include elorite, 28 hydrotalcite, 29 graphene, 30 and other inorganic materials 31 . For example, Sun et al 32 enhanced the CS aerogel with montmorillonite and prepared a composite aerogel with high mechanical strength (up to 630 kPa axial Young's modulus) and low thermal conductivity (down to 31 mW m −1 K −1 radial thermal conductivity) by directional freezing and chemical vapor deposition.…”

Thermal insulation and mechanical properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic polyphthalazine ether sulfone ketone composites reinforced by hollow glass beads

“…Energy conservation and emission reduction have become a persistent goal of researchers due to the significance of energy in human development 1–5 . As a result, thermal insulation materials have been a research hotspot for the past 30 years 6–8 .…”

“…Energy conservation and emission reduction have become a persistent goal of researchers due to the significance of energy in human development. [1][2][3][4][5] As a result, thermal insulation materials have been a research hotspot for the past 30 years. [6][7][8] These materials are typically characterized by high porosity, resulting in low thermal conductivity and excellent thermal insulating performance.…”