Nanoclay-based PVA aerogels: synthesis and characterization

Carolina Simón-Herrero, Laura Gómez, Amaya Romero, José Luis Valverde, Luz Sanchez-Silva

Index: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b00385

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Abstract

Nanoclay-based PVA aerogels have been synthesised at pilot plant scale using an environmentally friendly freeze-drying method. In the present work, the influence of different kind of nanoclays on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the resulted PVA aerogels were evaluated. In addition, the effect of nanoclay/PVA mass ratio was studied. Nanoclay incorporation into the polymeric matrix resulted in compact structures with small pore size distribution. Moreover, nanoclay addition (up to 3 wt. %) allowed to improve the mechanical properties of the obtained aerogels. Nanoclay-based PVA aerogels showed interesting properties, such as low density, good mechanical properties, low thermal conductivity and fire resistance.