Open AccessAerogels in Aerospace: An Overview
Author(s) -
Nadiir Bheekhun,
Abd Rahim Abu Talib,
Mohd Roshdi Hassan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advances in materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1687-8442
pISSN - 1687-8434
DOI - 10.1155/2013/406065
Subject(s) - aerogel , materials science , aerospace , supercritical drying , porosity , supercritical fluid , thermal conductivity , dielectric , commercialization , composite material , thermal insulation , astronautics , thermal , nanotechnology , aerospace engineering , optoelectronics , meteorology , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , layer (electronics) , political science , law , engineering
Aerogels are highly porous structures prepared via a sol-gel process and supercritical drying technology. Among the classes of aerogels, silica aerogel exhibits the most remarkable physical properties, possessing lower density, thermal conductivity, refractive index, and dielectric constant than any solids. Its acoustical property is such that it can absorb the sound waves reducing speed to 100 m/s compared to 332 m/s for air. However, when it comes to commercialization, the result is not as expected. It seems that mass production, particularly in the aerospace industry, has dawdled behind. This paper highlights the evolution of aerogels in general and discusses the functions and significances of silica aerogel in previous astronautical applications. Future outer-space applications have been proposed as per the current research trend. Finally, the implementation of conventional silica aerogel in aeronautics is argued with an alternative known as Maerogel
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom