Discover Aerogel metaphysics of the future

People always search and create new materials with superior features including 'freezing gas' Aerogel. According to recent scientific news, Aerogel may be the potential metamaterial of the future.

New material is lighter than airgel, 10,000 times harder

6 metamaterials can change the world

According to the latest scientific research of the world, Aerogels with superior properties, probably will become a potential material, has many applications in the future.

What is aerogel?

Aerogel is also called Alcogel by him, made of silica gel (SiO2) and alcohol. Simply put, just let the alcohol evaporate from the silica gel to create an airgel structure, like blowing air through a sponge soaked in water, it will dry out. However, in fact, if it is natural, it will never happen that process. Instead of relying solely on evaporation, Aerogel is made through the following stages:

Initially, it is necessary to create a gel environment with a temperature and pressure reaching a critical point - at a level where there is not much difference between liquid and gas. Next, keep the temperature level at the critical point, gradually reduce the pressure. When the pressure drops, the molecules are released as gas and liquid with a density not too dense.

Latest scientific news shows the potential of future metamaterials

The next step is cooling. Before cooling, there will be a small amount of alcohol condensed into liquid, then it will be converted into a vapor like the original. What remains is a silica solids, but instead of being liquid, it is filled with air. The product obtained in this step may be called Alcogel. Acogel after dehydration is called Aerogel (alcohol has been replaced by gas).

History of development

In fact, gas glue was discovered in the early 30s. But by the 1970s, people focused on rubber and plastics more and gas glue was almost forgotten, it was only recently concerned. come back. Thanks to its special thermal and sound insulation capabilities, in 1997, the gas glue was put into use by the US Aerospace Agency (NASA). They used this material to wrap the 'Sojourner' ship to avoid the intrusion of cold temperatures on Mars. On the ground, gas glue is being researched and applied in the manufacture of insulating windows.

Nature

Aerogels are a form of material with many interesting properties: First, Airgel is the lightest, most solid, best insulating material and the lowest material density. It is so light that it can be placed on a flower. With a volume of 1 cubic inch (about 16.3 ml) can be laminated and covered an entire football field.

Recent scientific reports have published the special properties of Aerogel

Aerogels are a form of 'gas and solid', with up to 90% of the volume being air, so it is only 3 times heavier than air and 1,000 times lighter than glass. Although mostly air, Aerogel can withstand 500 to 4,000 times its weight.

It is also capable of allowing air to penetrate, prevent fire and can absorb both oil and water. And yet, Aerogel can both make electrical wires that can become the best insulator ever mixed with some other materials.

Recent scientific news has always focused on the special nature of Aerogel

There are three most popular types of aerogels today, silica, carbon and metal oxides. Aerogel's weakness is brittleness, especially when made from silicon. However, scientists from the US Aviation Agency (NASA) have experimented with materials made from polymers, applying its electrical properties to spacecraft. Mixing another compound into the basic airgel can make it more flexible.

Application

With those extraordinary abilities, Aerogel deserves the name 'the best material on the planet'. With so many preeminent features, Aerogel can be applied in many areas, allowing people to do what has never been done with previous materials. Because of its unique structure, Aerogel is also used as the most 'insidious' insulator on earth.

Foreign scientific news magazines always uphold the potential of Aerogel

Super insulated suits that use the Aerogel structure can completely resist three heat transfer phenomena: convection, thermal conductivity and radiation. Universe industry. From the insulating devices of the Mars spacecraft to the cosmic dust sieves emitted from comets.

Aerogel's application can come from all areas of life, especially with space technology

In addition, NASA has also used Aerogels to make window glass, covers for explorer ships such as Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers and Stardust; fabrication of non-domestic thermal insulation clothing; making aircraft covers . In addition, aerogels can promote green technology worldwide. Carbon aerogel has great potential in supercapacitors, batteries for electric cars .