Silica Aerogel

Name: Silica Aerogel
Database: NASA Ames Thermal Protection Materials
Category: Nano-Materials
Composition: Silicon, Oxygen
Manufacturer: Ocellus, Nanopore, Aspen Systems, Cabot
Technical Readiness Level: 3
Last Modified: 2001-10-01

Description:

  • Aerogels are gels in which the liquid phase has been replaced by gas, leaving a highly porous materials with a submicron framework. Aerogels are porous materials with the lowest possible weight and conductivity for a solid. (Minimum: less than 5 X air density, 2% solid material conductivity, 1% solid phase) Aerogels are typically fragile, but show tremendous potential as low-density, high-temperature insulation. Silica aerogels, made of the same components as glass and sand, are also known as "Solid Smoke". The refractive index of slica aerogels ranges from 1.002 - 1.160 The surface area of silica aerogels ranges from 580-1160 square meters per gram.

Point of Contact:

  • Susan White
  • NASA Ames Research Center
  • swhite@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Pictures:

Properties at Standard Conditions
SI Units (MKS)
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Property Value Units Uncertainty Source STP Reference Last Modified Additional Data
Density1 1.00e+02 kg/m^3 5.0 measured assumed/assumed 3 2006-01-05
Thermal Conductivity (Isotropic)2 9.90e-03 W/m-K N/A predicted interpolated(T) 3 2006-01-05
Specific Heat 7.55e+02 J/kg-K 37.7 measured TRUE 2 2006-01-05
Multiple Use Temperature Limit 8.73e+02 K N/A unknown assumed/assumed 2006-01-05
Single Use Temperature Limit 1.27e+03 K N/A unknown assumed/assumed 2006-01-05
Tensile Modulus (Isotropic)3 1.00e+06 Pa 5.00e+05 unknown assumed/assumed 1 2006-01-05

Notes:

  • 1. Density for Aerogels is variable; 0.1 gm/cc is a typical density.
  • 2. For values below 400K (260F) data is measured at 1 atm for a 0.145 gm/cc sample. Values above 400K are predicted.
  • 3. The modulus is proportional to (density)^3.7.

Property References:

  • 1. P.W. Pekala, L.W. Hrubesh, T.M. Tillotson, C.T. Alviso, J.F. Poco, J.D. LeMay: A Comparison of Mechanical Properties and Scaling Law Relationships for Silica Aerogels and their Organic Counterparts:Chemistry & Materials Science Dept., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550:TPSX Ref. #53.
  • 2. P. Scheuerpflug, M. Hauck, J. Fricke: Thermal properties of silica aerogels between 1.4 and 330 K:Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, North-Holland:1992:TPSX Ref. #54.
  • 3. L.W. Hrubesh, R.W.Pekala: Thermal Properties of Organic and Inorganic Aerogels:Chemistry&Materials Science Dept.,Lawrence Livermore Nat. La.:J. Materials Research:Mar-94:TPSX Ref. #133.

General References:

  • 1. S.J. Teichner, G.A. Nicolaon, M.A. Vicarini, G.E.E. Gardes: Inorganic Oxide Aerogels:Advances in Colloid and Interface Science:Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam:1976:TPSX Ref. #51.
  • 2. A. Bernasconi, T. Sleator, D. Posselt, J.K. Kjems, H.R. Ott: Low-temperature specific heat and thermal conductivity of silica aerogels:Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, North Holland:1992:TPSX Ref. #52.
  • 3. P.W. Pekala, L.W. Hrubesh, T.M. Tillotson, C.T. Alviso, J.F. Poco, J.D. LeMay: A Comparison of Mechanical Properties and Scaling Law Relationships for Silica Aerogels and their Organic Counterparts:Chemistry & Materials Science Dept., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550:TPSX Ref. #53.
  • 4. P. Scheuerpflug, M. Hauck, J. Fricke: Thermal properties of silica aerogels between 1.4 and 330 K:Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, North-Holland:1992:TPSX Ref. #54.