Study on the Influence of the Preparation Method of Konjac Glucomannan-Silica Aerogels on the Microstructure, Thermal Insulation, and Flame-Retardant Properties
Ying Kuang,
Puming Liu,
Yichen Yang,
Xiaosa Wang,
Menglong Liu,
Wei Wang,
Tianlin Guo,
Man Xiao,
Kai Chen,
Fatang Jiang,
Cao Li
Affiliations
Ying Kuang
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Puming Liu
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Yichen Yang
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Xiaosa Wang
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Menglong Liu
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Wei Wang
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Tianlin Guo
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Man Xiao
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Kai Chen
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Fatang Jiang
National “111” Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloid Research Center at HBUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Cao Li
School of Health Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
Natural polysaccharides with high viscosity, good thermal stability, and biocompatibility can improve the mechanical properties of inorganic silica aerogels and enhance their application safety. However, the effects of the preparation methods of polysaccharide-silica aerogels on their microstructure and application properties have not been systematically studied. To better investigate the effect of the microstructure on the properties of aerogel materials, two aerogels with different structures were prepared using Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) via physical blending (KTB) and co-precursor methods (KTC), respectively. The structural differences between the KTB and KTC aerogels were characterized, and the thermal insulation and fire-retardant properties were further investigated. The compressive strength of the KTC aerogels with a cross-linked interpenetrating network (IPN) structure was three times higher than that of the KTB aerogels, while their thermal conductivity was 1/3 of that of the KTB aerogels. The maximum limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the KTC aerogels was 1.4 times, the low peak heat release rate (PHRR) was reduced by 61.45%, and the lowest total heat release (THR) was reduced by 41.35% compared with the KTB aerogels. The results showed that the KTC aerogels with the IPN have better mechanical properties, thermal insulation, and fire-retardant properties than the simple physically blending KTB aerogels. This may be due to the stronger hydrogen-bonding interactions between KGM and silica molecules in the KTC aerogels under the unique forcing effect of the IPN, thus enhancing their structural stability and achieving complementary properties. This work will provide new ideas for the microstructure design of aerogels and the research of new thermal insulation and fire-retardant aerogels.
