Mechanical Properties of Aerogel-Ceramic Fiber Composites

Abstract

Aerogel composites were prepared by immersing ceramic fiber into silica aerogel precursor via supercritical fluid drying. The mechanical behavior of silica aerogel composites was investigated with shrinkage, tension, bending and compression. The influences of fiber volume fraction, aerogel density and heat treatment were examined. After reinforced by ceramic fiber, the shrinkage of aerogel and aerogel-fiber composites was retarded obviously. The mechanical property of aerogel-fiber composites increased first and then decreased with increasing fiber volume fraction from 5.8% to 11.5%. For a given fiber volume fraction, the mechanical strength enhanced with increasing aerogel density. In addition, the mechanical property of aerogel composites did not decrease but increased after heat treatment at 600°C.