Chinese team’s ultratough aerogel could shield aircraft from new extremes
Researchers propose novel method for producing strong, heat-resistant material used for protecting spacecraft and military equipment
However, despite their superior insulating abilities, conventional aerogels typically suffer from poor mechanical strength, making them vulnerable to pressure or impact.
Researchers from Zhejiang University in eastern China have developed a universal preparation technique that enables the creation of aerogels with an internal dome-like cellular structure.
By varying the raw materials, hundreds of formulations can be derived, each exhibiting high elasticity. Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Science on July 17.
The method, dubbed the “2D channel-confined chemistry” approach, involves the use of nanoscale graphene oxide during production.