US EPA

3537177 

Journal Article 

CNF-reinforced polymer aerogels: Influence of the synthesis variables and economic evaluation 

Victor-Roman, S; Simon-Herrero, C; Romero, A; Gracia, I; Luis Valverde, J; Sanchez-Silva, Luz 

2015 

Yes 

Chemical Engineering Journal
ISSN: 1385-8947 

262 

691-701 

10.1016/j.cej.2014.10.026 

WOS:000347577700076 

http://://WOS:000347577700076
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The synthesis of organic polymer aerogels reinforced with
carbon nanofibers (CNF-reinforced polymer aerogels) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the
polymeric matrix, by means of the freeze-drying method has been carried out. The influence of the
CNF content in the polymer aerogel and the use of different solvents on the physical,
morphological and mechanical properties of the final aerogel composites have been evaluated. The
thermal conductivity and the porosity of CNF-reinforced polymer aerogels increased with the
content of CNF. However, the density of the synthesized aerogels decreased when the CNF content
was increased up to a value of 87.5 g/L. According to a dynamic mechanical analysis, the
incorporation of CNF into the PVA matrix enhanced the mechanical characteristics and the glass
transition temperature of the resulting CNF-reinforced polymer aerogels. On the other hand,
aerogels synthesized using water as the solvent presented higher densities than those synthesized
using acetone, butanol, ethanol or tert-butanol. However, their thermal conductivity values were
very similar. Finally, an economic evaluation of the production of these materials using the
freeze-drying technique was carried out. It was demonstrated the economic feasibility of the
manufacturing process of aerogels proposed. Furthermore, no toxic pollutants were released at
temperatures below 180 degrees C. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 

Carbon nanofibers; Organic aerogels; Polyvinyl alcohol; Freeze-drying; Thermal insulation