Surface silylation and pore structure development of silica aerogel composites from colloid and TEOS-based precursor

Flexible aerogel-fiber composites were prepared by silylation and ambient drying of colloidal silica and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS)-based sol. After immersing glass fiber matrices into silica sol with colloid-based, colloid/TEOS-based, and TEOS-based silica sol, it was surface-modified in a trimethylchlorosilane/n-hexane solution and heat-treated at 230 °C in ambient atmosphere. Surface silylation of silica aerogel synthesized from colloid and TEOS-based silica sols showed different behaviors. For colloid silica gel, it was comprised of small sized mesopores because colloid-based silica gel has dense networks through great degrees of hydrolysis and condensation. On the contrary, TEOS-based aerogel was consisted of relatively large-sized pores because of comparatively lesser degree of hydrolysis and condensation. Through this study, we can know that the pore structures of silica aerogel could be controlled by choosing colloid or TEOS-based precursor and surface silylation reaction.